“I actually hate Valentine’s Day, a lot,” says Meg Crane, Editor-in-Chief of Cockroach Zine.

Crane is currently running a campaign to make and distribute valentines to women’s shelters. 

The goal of the project is to re-purpose Valentine’s Day, a holiday that can range from trite to downright glum in the eyes of many. 

While receiving a valentine might not seem like all that big of a deal to some, the small gesture can say a lot about the health of a community. Social determinants of health, like having a network of supports, are often overlooked in favour of more pragmatic concerns.

Crane’s project aims to let women living in or leaving abusive relationships know that they are loved by sending them personalized valentines.

Last February, Crane collected and delivered 800 valentines to Siloam Mission in the two weeks leading up to the holiday. This year, Crane has the goal of reaching as many women’s shelters as possible across Canada and making upwards of 2,000 valentines before February. 

The genius of this campaign is its simplicity; anyone who can navigate a glue stick and some glitter, or who can handle a trip to the Dollar Store, can participate. While donations to cover the costs of postage and craft supplies are gladly accepted, they are not required. 

This initiative is very easily accessible. Students from Shaftesbury High School, for example, will be adding their valentines to the campaign.

Under the banner of  Cockroach Zine, which has been in circulation since late 2013, Crane has hosted many other fundraising and crafting events. Cockroach is a local self-published magazine that operates with a roster of over 20 contributors and a dedication to feminist and environmental ethics. 

With this project, Crane is opening up beyond the community of those who make and read zines, and connecting with a broader audience.

This campaign will take to the road when Crane visits Calgary later this month to host valentine-making workshops with feminist groups there. While no such events are planned for Winnipeg, she encourages everyone to host independent events. 

Crane says that she has been surprised to find that many people who were previously uninterested in the world of zines have gotten on board with the project, going as far as hosting their own valentine-making events and parties. For any events where people want to make valentines, Crane and Cockroach are happy to provide supplies.

The campaign to distribute valentines to women’s shelters is an excellent way to shift the focus of Valentine’s Day away from materialistic gift giving. Not only does it show support for some of our society’s most vulnerable people, who doesn’t love a little bit of arts and crafts in their day? Participating in this campaign is a great way to put some glitter to good use and brighten the short winter days.

Published in Volume 69, Number 17 of The Uniter (January 21, 2015)