It’s a new year and time for a new activity by Newcastle Parks and Recreation. They ask local residents and their children to create Valentine cards for the patients at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital.
Parks & Recreation Director Kyle Marks said, “Let’s flood some hospital rooms with kindness.”
He said last year the community delivered more than 1,000 cards and he would like to see everyone top that for 2026.
Anyone can participate including adults, schools and libraries — anyone with a heart and a marker, Marks said.
The City is partnering with Newcastle Public Schools at all sites, along with Pioneer Library System’s Newcastle Library.
Directions include only handmade cards with positive encouraging messages. They ask that no false hope or medicalrelated promises are made, and no personal information is used. They ask that participants refrain from any messages that might be considered sensitive or religious.
The deadline for cards to be back at the City of Newcastle is February 10. City Hall is at 120 N.E. 2nd Street, the Parks Department is at 801 N. Carr, and the Pioneer Library, also a drop-off location, is at 705 N.W. 10th Street.
Card makers can use paper and writing utensils such as pens, crayons or markers. Marks said participants should feel free to use additional craft supplies such as stickers, colored paper, and non-shedding decorations. They ask you to avoid glitter.
“Use general, cheerful greetings like ‘Hello There,’ or ‘To an Awesome Kid,’ that are universally appealing and do not address the recipient directly by name,” Marks said.
Participants can sign their name on their card, and include class, school or organization. Examples might include: Jill from art class, kate from Girl Scout Troop #- - - -, or Kevin from Newcastle.
