Poppin’ With Heartfelt Appreciation: A Fourth Year of Connection and Giving Back with CLA

Popcorn popped, Polaroids snapped and conversations flowed as Valentine’s Week began at St. Joseph Village (SJV) … not with flowers or candy, but with purpose.

SJV residents and teammates and volunteers from Forefront Living (FL) partner, CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA), gathered for a shared goal: to say thank you to the people who care for the community every day. The occasion marked the fourth year of a Valentine collaboration between FL and CLA. For many CLA team members, it was a rare opportunity to spend time with the residents they ultimately serve through their work. They were able to connect with them directly and face to face adding an extra layer of meaning to this year’s event.

“We look forward to having our team see the impact that a moment can have on someone’s life as we work alongside those impacted through our work with Forefront Living,” said Raquel Castro, an assurance principal with CLA. “We’re really grateful for the opportunity to be here and spend time with these residents and teammates.”

The popcorn-themed event, Poppin’ With Heartfelt Appreciation, brought generations together around tables in SJV’s “living room” as residents and volunteers assembled Valentine gifts for Coppell Fire Department Station #2 and Metrocrest Services. What began as a simple service project quickly turned into something more. Valentine-themed conversation prompts sparked laughter and storytelling, helping strangers become collaborators … and collaborators become friends.

Between handfuls of popcorn and sips of prosecco and soft drinks, small moments stood out. A shared memory. A burst of laughter. A story exchanged between generations that might never have met otherwise. Each group paused to take a Polaroid photo together, later paper clipped to the outside of the the Valentine gift bags as a reminder that real people, across ages and experiences, had come together to create them.

The day ended with a caravan as residents, volunteers and teammates traveled to personally deliver the Valentines, first to Coppell Fire Department Station #2 and then to Metrocrest Services. Smiles, gratitude and photos marked each stop, resulting in moments of connection.

“Last year, before I moved to St. Joseph Village, first responders had to pick me up at my house and take me to the hospital, so I’m especially happy to do this small act of thanks for them today,” said Mary Pat Black, a SJV resident. “We are catered to so often here, it’s nice for us to have an opportunity to give back.”

By the time everyone returned to their respective homes, the message was clear: gratitude grows deeper when it’s shared.

by Wendy Van Bemmel