Posti, in cooperation with its partners, will remember those who are alone this Valentine’s Day, and challenges everyone to send Valentine’s Day cards to HelsinkiMissio charity, Rinnekoti disability services and SOS Children’s Village. Remember to mail your cards to these recipients by January 31st at the latest to ensure their delivery. The roots of the international Day of Saint Valentinus date back to Ancient Rome in the second century. Internationally, the day is celebrated on February 14th. In Finland, the tradition began in the 1980s and is dedicated to friendship—ystävänpäivä means “Friends’ Day” .
Posti will continue the cooperation it began with Bauer Media last year. This year, too, people are challenged to send Valentine’s Day cards to those who need more friendship in their lives. Cards received by Posti will be delivered to the HelsinkiMissio charity, Rinnekoti disability services and SOS Children’s Village by Valentine’s Day.
A card can also pass on joy to someone you might not know personally.
“In Finland, up to 400,000 people suffer from loneliness at times or continuously. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased loneliness. People of all ages suffer from it, but COVID-19 has hit hard the social networks of senior citizens and the elderly in particular. However, small actions can decrease loneliness. You can cheer someone up who suffers from loneliness with a Valentine’s Day card, even if you don’t know them personally,” says Tuula Colliander, Executive Director at HelsinkiMissio.
Many who have received cards have been inspired to return the good deed.
“Especially elderly disabled people may experience loneliness, and they have very few social contacts. Last year, our customers were very happy and touched to receive Valentine’s Day cards. Many customers also returned the good deed and took part in writing cards. We’re very happy to participate in the campaign this year, too,” says Taina Rönnqvist, Marketing and Communications Manager at Rinnekoti.
The campaign also includes SOS Children’s Village as a recipient. For the young children of the digital age, postcards may not be a familiar form of messaging.
“A postcard will always put a smile on your face! Children find it fun to receive surprise cards from unknown friends. It’s great to be part of this campaign, which sparks joy,” says Annemi Usva-Vänttinen, Corporate Partnerships Manager at SOS Children’s Village.
The significance of cards was strongly noticed late last year, too. A record-breaking 60,000 thank-you cards were sent to veterans and women who participated in the war effort, which is even more than in Finland’s centennial year in 2017. Approximately 18 million Christmas cards were also sent, which is approximately 25% more than in the previous year.
“A small card has a great impact when we cannot meet each other as we would normally. Cards can express caring and an important sense of community. The same unifying fact behind friendship and caring remains: a desire to share the joys and sorrows of life with each other, and the idea of cheering up the recipient in different situations,” says Tuija Åkerman who is responsible for Posti’s Consumer Services.
Send your Valentine’s Day cards in good time
Posti’s Valentine’s Day campaign website includes instructions for sending your cards. Drop your cards in a mailbox before the collection time of the last mailing date.
Valentine’s Day cards for Rinnekoti, HelsinkiMissio and SOS Children’s Village must be mailed at the latest on January 31st. Other Valentine’s Day cards must be mailed at the latest on February 8th. Valentine’s Day cards equipped with a Plus Sticker in addition to a regular postage stamp must be mailed at the latest on February 10th.
The theme of this year’s Valentine’s Day postage stamps is Let’s Take Care. The stamp booklet contains six different domestic non-value indicator stamp designs.
The roots of the international Day of Saint Valentinus date back to Ancient Rome in the second century. Internationally, the day is celebrated on February 14th. In Finland, the tradition began in the 1980s and is dedicated to friendship—ystävänpäivä means “Friends’ Day” . Deviating from the international theme, Valentine’s Day in Finland is dedicated to friends and not only celebrating romantic love. Valentine’s Day celebrations were adopted in the Finnish calendar in the late-1980s. The Finnish Red Cross and Posti campaigned together for the celebration of friendship in 1987.
