In Long Beach, Valentine’s Day often shows up as roses, candy, and reservations. But there is another version of the holiday that quietly moves through the city each year, one that does not ask for money or romance, just a moment of kindness.

 

On Friday, February 13, 2026, Christian Outreach in Action, known as COA, will host its 4th Annual Spread the Love initiative. The plan is simple and ambitious at the same time: distribute more than 5,000 hand cut paper hearts with handwritten messages, along with care packages filled with hygiene essentials and snacks, throughout Long Beach.

 

It begins at COA’s headquarters, then stretches outward into everyday places where encouragement can land gently. People walking their dogs. Riders waiting at bus stops. Seniors who may feel forgotten. First responders who spend their shifts supporting others. Neighbors experiencing homelessness who rarely hear something tender addressed to them.

 

What the Spread the Love outreach looks like in Long Beach

 

The hearts are not printed slogans. They are written by hand, one message at a time. A few words can do more than people realize, especially when the day has been heavy or lonely. That is the point of this outreach: a small, personal note that says you matter, even if we have never met.

 

Along with the hearts, COA will also distribute care packages that include basic hygiene items and snacks. It is a combination that covers both the practical and the emotional. A useful bag you can carry, and a message you can keep.

 

COA says the distribution will happen throughout the day across Long Beach. The intended reach is broad: first responders, seniors, people experiencing homelessness, and everyday community members going about their routine.

 

Why COA focuses on handwritten encouragement

 

COA describes this initiative as a way to bring love and hope to people who may not hear encouragement on a daily basis. It is easy to forget how rare supportive words can be for someone living in survival mode, or for someone serving the public day after day while carrying their own stress.

 

For Long Beach, the value is not only in the items handed out. It is in the atmosphere created when strangers decide to treat each other as neighbors. A handwritten heart can change the tone of a moment. A care package can reduce a barrier, even briefly. Together, they form a citywide reminder that compassion is not abstract. It is something you can hold in your hand.

 

Spread the Love also creates a rare bridge between groups that do not always interact. When the same outreach includes first responders, seniors, unhoused residents, and people waiting at a bus stop, the message is that dignity belongs everywhere, not only in certain parts of town.

 

How to volunteer for Spread the Love in Long Beach

 

COA is inviting the community to participate in two ways: write messages on hearts, help distribute hearts and care packages, or do both. The preparation and the distribution bring together nonprofit partners, churches, schools, and individual volunteers.

 

This is one of those events where a small contribution is meaningful. You do not have to be a professional volunteer or part of an organization. If you can write a few sincere words, you can help. If you can give a few hours to hand out hearts and care packages, you can help. The scale is large, but each heart is personal.

 

To volunteer or learn more, COA asks people to call 562 432 1440.

 

Christian Outreach in Action and its Long Beach mission

 

Founded in 1981, Christian Outreach in Action has served the Long Beach community for over four decades. COA provides critical resources to individuals and families in need, including daily hot meals, a food pantry, and outreach programs designed to support vulnerable community members.

 

Spread the Love fits naturally into that mission. It is not a one time performance. It is an expression of a daily practice: showing up, meeting needs, and offering dignity in ways people can feel immediately.

 

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Event Details

 

Spread the Love Valentine’s Day Outreach (Christian Outreach in Action)
• Date: Friday, February 13, 2026
• Time: All day distribution (starts at COA headquarters)
• Location: Long Beach, CA (citywide outreach)
• What is included: 5,000 handwritten paper hearts plus care packages with hygiene essentials and snacks
• Volunteer info: Call 562 432 1440

• Website: Click Here