CHAMPAIGN – State Senator Paul Faraci (D-Champaign) released the following statement after his office’s Valentine’s Day Card drive received more than 500 cards for veterans from community members:

“We wanted to continue the practice of Valentine’s Day Card deliveries that Senator Scott Bennett started. In partnership with the Vermilion County War Museum, we were able to deliver over 500 cards to local veterans."

“I had one veteran come up to me after I gave him a Valentine’s Day card. He let me know that he doesn’t have any family and that the card meant the world to him. At that point, he and I were both holding back tears. That moment is exactly what we hoped to accomplish with the Drive.”