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SALT LAKE CITY — Valentine’s Day is coming up this week, and that may be leaving some of you feeling sad or lonely.
Also known as Single Awareness Day, the holiday can be bittersweet for those who love chocolate and flowers, but don’t have someone to share them with. If you are feeling sad about being made hyperaware of not having a significant other, we have a boost for you.
The KSL.com “Make Your Week” column features uplifting stories sent in from people outside the newsroom. To send in the stories that have made your day better, email them in 100 words or less to fjolley@ksl.com. Photos and videos are encouraged.
Teacher goes above and beyond
Jennifer H.
“Yesterday at a local middle school, a student had shaved his head for his grandmother who has cancer. He came to school with a hat. Mr. Steve Bodell asked this kid to take his hat off and his reply was that he couldn’t. The teacher then went into the hall with the boy and found out why. He had shaved his head for his grandmother in support of her. Steve called his wife to bring clippers. He shaved his head for this student to help him feel more comfortable. An act like this should be shared :) There are so many good teachers out there, it would be great to recognize them.”
Valentine’s Day kindness
Angela A.
“My neighbor had this great idea! What if every student gets a rose (on Valentine’s Day) and feels that somebody cares about them. So she posted it on Facebook thinking a few people would donate. She now has enough money for 600 kids to get a rose. They've decided that they will give to all the special needs kids and the kids on the watch list for depression and suicide will get a rose and then they will give as many as they can to other kids. Inspiring to me that there is such goodness in the world!”
More Valentine’s Day kindness
LaRue J.
“My friend's son and nephew are each pulling off the ultimate Valentine's Day ‘do good’ activity. They have each collected enough money to purchase and hand deliver a long stem rose to EVERY girl at their high schools on Valentine's Day. Davis High School has approximately 1,260 girls and Herriman High School has approximately 1,500. This has been done as secretly as they could do and many friends and neighbors have contributed. The boys want each girl to feel special on a day that becomes a popularity contest in high school.”
Even more Valentine's Day goodness
Heidi M.
"Last year, my son was elected president of his seventh grade class. He took this very seriously and came up with the plan that he was going to buy every seventh grade girl a flower for Valentine’s Day. He made a goal after that day last year that this year he would buy one for every girl in his school. He worked hard, asked for cash for birthday and Christmas instead of presents, and met his goal. On Wednesday, he will hand out 450 roses to all the girls at his school."
Fundraising to help those in need
Linda K.
“We are doing a fundraiser for a teacher in our school whose daughter has cancer for the second time. She was diagnosed last year with osteosarcoma. She underwent an invasive surgery that removed the lower leg and aggressive chemotherapy. In September, she turned 13, and a body scan showed more cancer on her lungs. She has now undergone surgery to remove cancer from her lungs and had to repair a break to the affected leg.
“We … would like to help with alleviating some of the financial strain that this situation causes. We are going to do a fundraiser from Feb. 26 - March 2 at our school. We are doing 'penny wars' with the students and hopefully meeting money goals for each day. Our principals and teachers will be doing super crazy stunts like have a Saint Bernard lick bacon grease off their face or eat 20 McDonald’s hamburgers without barfing or have some teachers get their legs waxed or have 3 gallons of glue, glitter and feathers dumped on them to help keep the students motivated through the week. It’s really going to be fantastic!”
