Valentine’s Day came early on Thursday to the patients at Sentara Obici Hospital when Farm Fresh employees delivered balloons donated by their customers.

Patient Doris Pittman was thrilled to receive two balloons, a special treat since it was her 93rd birthday.

“She has been the best mom ever,” said Sandy Pauli, one of three daughters. The family thanked the Farm Fresh employees profusely.

Eric Hauser, marketing director for Ivie & Associates, a PR firm that works with Farm Fresh, said the idea for the initiative formed just a few weeks ago. It was so successful that the company is branching out from hospitals and looking to nursing homes and other facilities to give away balloons.

“We’re turning over every stone to be able to give away all the balloons that customers donated,” he said. “It’s definitely something we’re going to get behind and do again.”

Customers at Farm Fresh stores throughout the area have donated the money for 4,600 balloons since the program began. About 250 went to Obici. Other Sentara hospitals as well as Bon Secours, Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters and Riverside were set to receive balloons as well.

Donna Dore, a cashier at the Bridge Road Farm Fresh, said she and her fellow workers had “no problems” convincing folks to donate money for balloons. Donors were given the chance to choose which hospital they wanted their balloon to go to. Many chose either their local hospital or CHKD, Hauser said.

Phyllis Stoneburner, vice president of patient care services at Sentara Obici, said she and everyone at the hospital appreciated the donations.

“It was an incredibly generous gesture from both Farm Fresh and all of the Farm Fresh customers,” Stoneburner said.