Annabelle Valentine Spreads Love in Manchester and Beyond
You may have noticed a little girl and a wagon full of treats and valentines spreading love through town on Friday. Although she is usually known as Annabelle Celkis, one day a year she is known as Annabelle Valentine. (For more pictures of Annabelle's 2014 efforts, check out our exclusive photo gallery.)
For the third year in a row, six-year-old Annabelle made it her mission to spread Valentine love. Inspired by her favorite storybook character Ruby Valentine, a little girl who spreads love through her own town every Valentines Day, Annabelle visited every business in town giving valentines and candy to every employee and customer and catching everyone walking by on the sidewalk.
The idea started on her 4th birthday. Her Grandma had been reading Ruby Valentine to her over and over, and while swinging out front, she was struck by the idea and said, “What if we did what Ruby did? We could give love to my town, Manchester." Her Grandma was so touched that she told her she would help. Annabelle’s mother remembers, “She was so excited and out of breath. I'll never forget. But I do remember thinking, 'Well let's see if she even remembers, I am sure she will forget and this was just a dream on the swing set.' Well it wasn't. And even though I think she will let it go the following year, she doesn't. It seems like it just keeps getting bigger.”
Annabelle Valentine 2012 with her Grandmother "GaGa" and her rusty old wagon.
photo credit: Stephanie Celkis
The first year, Annabelle, her mother and Grandmother set off with a decorated rusty wagon. Her mother said, “She was hardly shy. She was almost aggressive, as she chased down and almost startled the elderly and passerbys. It was hilarious. When she went into the Black Sheep, she took all her homemade cookies to pass out. I thought...’Oh boy, that's what they sell. Kellie isn't going to sell one bake good today if she goes in there.’ But off they went. Giving cookies to all the lil' ole ladies getting coffee and treats. The first year everyone was so surprised.”
The first person Annabelle gave a Valentine to in downtown Manchester, 2012
photo credit: Stephanie Celkis
One of the more memorable encounters happened the first year as well. One woman Annabelle gave a valentine and treats to cried in Annabelle’s arms and said something like, " If it weren't for you I wouldn't have gotten anything today, and I really needed this.” She had Annabelle’s mother take a picture with her phone to send to her daughter, and just kept holding on to Annabelle. Annabelle’s mother said, “I don't know what that woman was going through but it was something rough, you could tell.”
The second year Annabelle’s mother decided to pass a flyer out ahead of time so businesses could let her know discretely ahead of time not to visit their business if it was going to be disruptive, mostly because of the cookie incident at the Coffee Mill. However, not only did no one mind, but Kellie at the Coffee Mill told her “it was silly to worry, and she didn't mind at all and that Belle could bring in anything she wanted. She loved it, and Belle.”
This year Annabelle pulled a new wagon, purchased with money donated by a Facebook friend of her mother, who read Annabelle's story and was moved to contribute in some way.
The main difference the second year was now people knew her, and had things to give back. Her mother remembers, “The flower shop had flowers, Franks had a heart shape pizza waiting for her with a table set up and decorated. The ladies at Comerica were waiting anxiously and squealed when she arrived. The local businesses were screaming out her name with so much love back. All of this just fuels her desire to do it again. If it weren't for the people of Manchester and the way they so lovingly receive her, I am sure the idea would poop out. But it gets bigger.”
Annabelle with her teacher Mrs. Omara
photo credit: Stephanie Celkis
This year she received a warm welcome from all of the buisnesses in town again, but Annabelle’s Valentine Mission had grown beyond Manchester. When earlier in the year, Mrs. Omara, Annabelle’s first grade teacher, heard about Annabelle Valentine, she mentioned that maybe Annabelle could do something for veterans. Annabelle's mother mentioned it to her Aunt Grace (Annabelle's great aunt), a veteran, who told Annabelle that each Valentines Day she sends out over 500 handwritten messages & valentines to vets in her area. At Mrs. Omara's suggestion and with inspiration from Great Aunt Grace, plans were made to visit a veteran's hospital.
While making plans to "visit sick soldiers" Annabelle decided she would also like to visit and cheer up “sick kids”. Her mother made many phone calls but it turned out that there are so many regulations at children’s hospitals that they were going to be unable to visit. Annabelle was very sad so her mother decided to see if they could spread Valentine cheer to children at a homeless shelter instead.
Annabelle’s mother tells the story of setting that up, “I didn't mention the idea to her because I didn't want to get her hopes up. It took about a week to get something, and that in itself was frustrating but a miracle. I called a number, and I don't remember which shelter, but they transferred me here and there to finally saying ‘nice story, cute girl, let me get back to ya to see what we have available’. A week passes and Valentines is drawing near. At this point I said to myself maybe I need to call someone back. Get pushy. So I looked up online again. And I couldn't remember who I had called. Ahhhh so I called the Staples Center. I don't think I called them [initially], and it was confirmed when I had gotten Ms. Jones on the phone and she was hearing the story for the first time. She was the one that picked up the phone in the first place. And while explaining Belles mission she cried and then told me she was the director for this whole center. And she enthusiastically approved and couldn't wait to get started. She agreed without even knowing my name. WE connected like old friends reuniting. And she explained to me the miracle was, she never answers the phones. Its not usual. It was amazing. I told Belle and asked what she thought. She lit up like an LED flashlight with a smile bigger than the sky and pretended to faint from excitement. My drama queen. She popped back up and squealed, ‘MOM we have to get glow sticks!!!! These kids need glow sticks at their party.’ And yes, I got them.”
Annabelle at Franks Place this year after handing out valentines downtown on Valentines Day
photo credit: Stephanie Celkis
The generosity of the Manchester businesses did not end with their kindness towards Annabelle. Annabelle’s mother wanted to take pizza’s from Franks Place to the shelter for the party. The only problem was that Franks wouldn’t be open yet. She approached Denise at Franks to see if there was anyway they would consider opening up early to get pizzas ready for the event. But a short way into the conversation, Denise told her, "you know? We are not only going to open up early to get these for you, but we are also donating these." They donated 10 or more extra-extra-large pizzas generously covered with toppings and offered to donate whatever else Annabelle needed. They even included Annabelle’s favorite, fresh mushroom and ham.
Annabelle with Beverly Leneski, the volunteer coordinator for the hospital.
photo credit: Stephanie Celkis
Annabelle waits in the hall of the veteran's hospital outside a patient's room as Gary, a volunteer, delivers Annabelle's valentine and gift to the patient inside
photo credit: Stephanie Celkis
After delivering valentines in downtown Manchester, Annabelle and her mother headed to the veterans hospital. The veterans hospital had regulations that needed to be followed, which meant that Annabelle was only allowed in the common area, not into individual rooms. Annabelle and her mother knew this ahead of time, but because of a timing issue most of the patients had left the common area and had gone back to their rooms. While Annabelle’s mother was working this out at the front desk, Annabelle stood behind her and passed out cards and gifts to everyone around. A volunteer, and veteran himself, Gary, was so touched but what Annabelle was doing that he convinced the volunteer coordinator to stretch the rules a little bit to allow Annabelle through the halls. Gary got vets to come out of their rooms into the hall so Annabelle could give them valentines and gifts and if they were unable to get out of bed he took them in for her. Her mother said she met with many hugs, handshakes and even some tears. They left the hospital and headed to the shelter to decorate. Annabelle worked for 13 hours straight and although tired at the end of things, still smiling and sweet.
from right to left: Mrs. Jones (director of the shelter), Stephanie Celkis (Annabelle's mother), Kristyn (a friend of Stephanie's who helped out at the shelter) with a tired Annabelle in front
The next day, they returned to the shelter for the party. The party was for kids aged 1 to 16. Annabelle’s mother described the reaction of the children when they came into the party, “ALL of them were in Awe.... the kids reacted like they had just shown up to Disney. No joke. That warmed my heart as I looked at our humble surroundings with skimpy decorations. It was pretty for sure...but not that much. But to them, it was a wonder to see.” The favorite activity was the craft table. They encouraged the parents to leave the kids for a little while just to spend time together, as that is hard to do at the shelter.
Wil, Elizabeth and Kathryn Taylor helped Annabelle make art to decorate the shelter ahead of time
photo credit: Stephanie Celkis
Annabelle made instant friends, as did her mother with some of the women. They made plans to go back in the spring to help the gardens Mrs. Jones plans to install. Probably most of the friends Annabelle made will be gone at that point, having moved on to more permanent housing which is both a sad and happy thing.
Annabelle's mother wrote a letter to Laura B. Friedman, author of Ruby Valentine to share the story of how her book had touched Annabelle's life. Friedman asked if she could share Annabelle's story on her blog and on Facebook. She then told the publisher about it and the publisher sent Annabelle a box of Ruby Valentine books, postcards and bookmarks to share with everyone. Here Annabelle tells Mrs. Mayes, Klager Elementary principal, she would like to donate two books to the school library.
photo credit: Stephanie Celkis
Annabelle presents copies of the books sent by the publisher to Klager Elementary's librarian.
I asked Annabelle’s mother how long it takes them to get ready for Valentines Day and she said that the planning takes all year. In fact she already asked friends and family to keep an eye out for boxes of super hero valentines on mark down after Valentines day. They want to have as many as possible to give to the veterans next year. She has already received 10 boxes with word that many more have been purchased.
Annabelle Celkis, better known as Annabelle Valentine on Feb. 14.
photo credit: Stephanie Celkis
What is Annabelle’s favorite part? " Giving people love,” Annabelle said. Her mother asked her again after visiting the shelter and her answer? "’All of her friends that she made at the shelter. And that she misses them already.’ She was even sad when saying this. She didn't want that to end, and neither did those kids.”
Annabelle believes that this is her mission from God. Her mother said that Annabelle truly believes he made her in a way so she could help teach others how to love. Annabelle’s mother related this conversation: Annabelle said, " Mom, its so easy." And her Mother asked, “Whats easy?” And she answered, “Loving People. I mean, you just have to love. Its that easy. Nothing to it.”
Her mother believes that if everyone didn't make such a big cute fuss over her every year she would not have the confidence she has to spread love. She knows that it is due to “every smile, every card, flower, gift, treat, heart shape pizza, compliment, hug ...goodness so much encouragement given to her in so many ways.” The encouragement is year-round, too. Annabelle is now known around town as “Our Valentines Girl.”
Her mother wants to thank everyone for helping to make Annabelle’s dream come true. I asked her mother, what her favorite part of this is. She replied,”knowing that my little girls fantasy to make a character come alive has brought strangers and friends and family together in ways that I can't even have imagined. A child is leading the way. Seeing how many love her and support her, that is a parents dream. I can't thank everyone enough... for making this dream come true and have such momentum. My little girl is spreading the love, but all those that receive it have known it has been given by her, but from many.”
In the past, the sign on Annabelle’s wagon read “Love, Annabelle Valentine”, just like the sign in the book. But because of the work and the support of so many people, this year, and from now on, it will read “Love, Annabelle Valentine and Friends".
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