More people got to enjoy Valentine’s Day this week, thanks to a joint effort between Suffolk students and sheriff’s deputies.

For the third year in a row, the Suffolk Sheriff’s Office worked with Elephant’s Fork Elementary School to make Valentine’s Day cards for residents of the Autumn Care of Suffolk nursing and rehabilitation center.

Deputies arrived at the school in the morning on Friday to pick up the 115 individual cards hand-made by students. Written on the brightly colored sheets of paper were warm regards like “God Loves You.”

The kids are encouraged to extend their best wishes to the Autumn Care residents.

“The students look forward to spreading kindness to these residents and bringing smiles to their faces,” guidance counselor LaToya McGlone said.

Sheriff E.C. Harris and his deputies personally delivered the cards to the Autumn Care residents the same morning. They went to all 60 rooms in the building and presented a card to each of the 108 residents, as well as to the staff.

“They love getting cards from the kids,” Harris said. “It’s important to us to foster relationships and spend time with them. It’s a win-win.”

Mary Francis Luter has been an Autumn Care resident for the past three years. She’s 80 years old and has lived in Suffolk all of her life. She worked as an operating room technician for 30 years.

She appreciated what the students had done for her and her fellow residents.

“I think they’re very lovely and very nice,” Luter said. “I think they’re beautiful.”

The Sheriff’s Office organizes events for the Autumn Care residents year ‘round, and deputies even stop by to play bingo with them from time to time.

In April, Lt. Robert Cain will dress like the Easter Bunny and give the residents stuffed animals. In the winter, the costume will be Santa Claus.

“They are so happy to see us, and their smiles are well worth going,” Cain said.

Some residents don’t have frequent visitors, which makes these regular visits all the more rewarding.

“They don’t always have visitors, so we always welcome the outside world,” said Nurse Supervisor Debbie Allen. “When they smile, the staff smiles. It’s special.”