Teachers of the Oregon Trail School District recently received a bevy of belated hand-crafted Valentine cards and gifts

Although the Valentine's Day wishes arrived on Thursday, Feb. 18, the sentiment was just as appreciated.

"I have heard parents talk about how much they appreciate the teachers stepping up to the challenge of teaching during the pandemic, suddenly having to go online with no experience or training. Some parents have told me that they have gained a new respect for teachers, now that they have had to be more involved in their children's education," said librarian Katie Murphy. "And I think all of us — whether we have kids in school or not — have been made aware of how integral teachers are to keeping our society functioning. So, I wanted to give people an opportunity to express that gratitude. That's where the Hearts for Teachers project came from."

These valentines, made mostly from fabric and paper, were provided by children and families from around the school district through an effort led by the librarians at Sandy Public Library.

"I'm ecstatic to hear that the community is surrounding our teachers during this time of transition because it's already a hard enough time," said Sandy Grade Interim Principal Cassiday Hopkins. "I think having (the teachers) know that the community is positively wanting to impact them, it is really just heartwarming."