J&V Cares, Inc. administers two programs originating in 2002 and organized under a nonprofit in 2019.  The first was February 14th launching the Flowers to Widows program that surprises recent widows or widowers with a bouquet of roses annually on Valentine’s Day in the name of their recently deceased loved one. The September 11th First Responders Appreciation program began six months later and is an annual gratitude and recognition program in support of police, firefighters and EMTs. It’s a celebration where feasts are delivered to fire stations and precincts in recognition of sacrifices made by first responders.  We coordinate with an annual media partner to publicly recognize heroic acts like the I-85 bridge collapse team. For first responders lost in the line of duty, we are often the healing mechanism that brings colleagues together.

Our tagline for J&V Cares, Inc., is “compassion is strength”. When we are confronted with suffering, we are motivated to help relieve it to help build stronger communities. A key component of the Flowers to Widows program is to make sure the recipient has no knowledge of the scheduled Valentine’s Day delivery because the element of surprise turns a sad day into a loving one. Past recipients include victims of the Atlanta/Fulton County courthouse shootings. We have brought unexpected joy and comfort to Judge Barnes’ widow, the deputy’s widow, the federal agent’s widow and even the daughter of the court reporter who all received a surprise bouquet of flowers in the name of their loved one.

We have served hundreds annually with feasts and tell their stories on air engaging the public to show gratitude for these local heroes. When the I-85 bridge collapsed and burned, firefighters had only moments to make tactical decisions to be clear of danger. The September 11th First Responders Appreciation program honored them and told their stories on air. When an officer was killed in the line of duty prior to the First Responders Appreciation program occurring, coordinated recognition of the slain officer during our event provided the first opportunity since the memorial for colleagues, the parents, children and widow of the officer to grieve together and advance the healing process.

When APD officers Richard Halford and Shawn Smiley were killed during a helicopter search for a missing child, we honored them through their colleagues at the airport hangar, told their stories on air and surprised their widows with flowers in their name on Valentine’s Day the following year. By standing in the gap for first responders as a consistent and persuasive community advocate, we provide a platform to motivate officials and the community to bring continuous recognition to these underpaid warriors, raising public awareness of heroic acts routinely performed and increasing community appreciation for those who respond when citizens dial 9-1-1. Our programs aren’t designed to change lives, but to make living those lives a lot easier through caring and gratitude. We work to strengthen our communities though compassion.