Valentines for Inova Loudoun Hospital

For many, Valentine’s Day is all about romantic love, or a day for family members to express their love for one another.

For the women of Leesburg United Methodist Church, it is also a day to say “thank you” to the staff of .

A little before noon on Feb. 14, a delegation of Leesburg United Methodist women showed up in the hospital lobby bearing a bountiful array of tasty, healthy foods for a grateful group of hospital employees.

Hospital Chaplain Virginia Moore said that every year a different staff group is chosen to receive the gifts from the local church group.

“This year we chose the medical unit,” she said. “This is a thank you gift for the hard work they do throughout the year."

Betsy Creamer, president of the women’s group, said that the gifts include teas, hot chocolate and other beverages, and healthy snacks – “granola bars, cookies, chips, nuts, and a big basket of fruit.”

She said that the women’s group from Leesburg United Methodist Church has maintained its tradition of presenting a gift to the hospital every year on Valentine’s Day for at least the last 12 years. But the tradition extends even farther back than that. 

“I got started doing it back in the ’90s,” said Nancy Wolford of the church group. Back then, several groups were involved in giving gifts to the hospital every month, she said.

Over time, the other groups dropped off, according to Creamer, but the Methodist women’s group continued making their gift to the hospital once a year, on Valentine’s Day.

Members of the medical unit were enthusiastic recipients of the treats, as nurses and other medical staff posed for photos, thanked the women from the church, and cheerfully began claiming their goodies.