Revelstoke Unstuck Surprise Valentine’s shows Revelstoke spirit

Revelstoke Unstuck volunteers and some residents of a local Senior's Assisted Living centre hold up the cards, flowers and baked goods made by the community. — Revelstoke Unstuck Surprise Valentine’s volunteers show off some of the goodies for recipients. **Photo provided by Revelstoke Unstuck/Facebook**

Revelstoke Unstuck’s Surprise Valentine’s outreach project will once again be making the rounds to deliver Valentine’s Day surprises to community members. In its sixth year, the community-organized event brings together volunteers to bake, decorate and create various Valentine’s Day goodies and deliver them to nominees around town. Whether it’s someone facing Valentine’s Day alone for the first time since the passing of a loved one, caregivers focused on supporting those in hospital care or simply someone in town needing recognition for the work they do, Revelstoke Unstuck will be collecting nominations until Thursday, Feb. 6 before organizing deliveries for Friday, Feb. 14.

“It’s a way to remind some folks, ‘the community sees you. You’re a part of this community’,” Sandra Gregory, Revelstoke Unstuck founder told Revelstoke Mountaineer. Over the years, she has come to appreciate the various stories that accompany nominations.

“It brings connections, from people that are new, to locals that have been here for 40, 50 years,” Gregory explained.

That chance to build connection can also be achieved through volunteering with Gregory and her Revelstoke Unstuck crew. With the help of volunteers, Gregory turns her home into a production facility to put gifts together, sort out delivery schedules and head out to knock on doors to deliver a small bit of cheer.

“Everyone puts effort in without expecting something back because it means a lot to us.”

This year folks will have another opportunity to connect, with Revelstoke Unstuck volunteers offering a social on Feb. 14 once deliveries are finished. Anyone is welcome to drop by the Revelstoke Senior’s Centre from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. for a warm meal by donation. Donations will go towards funding Revelstoke Unstuck Surprise Valentine’s and other initiatives by the group. Another way to support Revelstoke Unstuck’s work is to purchase “Be Revy Kind” t-shirts, a phrase that Gregory said is the heart of what Revelstoke Unstuck does.

“Revelstoke Unstuck wouldn’t exist without the spirit of this community,” Gregory explained. “It’s being there for another community member, welcoming strangers, having that empathy and compassion and care to help.”

T-shirts can be ordered by contacting Gregory at [email protected]. You can also contact Gregory and the Revelstoke Unstuck Surprise Valentine’s team via email to donate to the project or nominate someone. The nominee’s name, contact details and possible delivery address, a brief reason for the nomination and any potential dietary and allergens should be included in the nomination. Those looking to volunteer time for preparation, delivery or helping with the social can contact Gregory via email or through the Revelstoke Unstuck Facebook page. Nominations close Thursday, Feb.6 and gifts will be delivered Friday, Feb. 14