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Like the Seth Meyers segment “The Kind Of Story We Need Right Now,” Lawrence has something cooking we all need to know about.
Kim Brook has been a friend for many years. I think she has the biggest heart in Lawrence.
Her light shines bright; she’s one of those people who truly receives by giving.
Brook started making Valentine’s Day cards earnestly in 2019. She made 70 cards by herself and gave them to the Senior Resource Center for distribution. In 2020, she gathered a group of friends and made cards for local Meals on Wheels recipients.
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Like moths attracted to a bright light each subsequent year, Brook has attracted more volunteers to handmake cards.
In 2025, 200 volunteers made a whopping 1,700 cards.
This year, Brook is expanding her reach to include Shawnee and Douglas County Meals on Wheels recipients, Wichita Meals on Wheels, and the Satanta, Kansas Senior Center.
Brook has welcomed volunteers ranging in age from 4 to 80. Everyone is welcome. She brings the supplies and encouragement. People settle in and let curiosity and creativity come forth.
The bonus: people enjoy gathering in community to make cards for strangers who will enjoy a little Valentine’s Day cheer.
Abigail Scott came out Sunday to help make cards.
“I really enjoy doing crafts. Since I moved here in 2021, I haven’t had the time, so I thought why not come out?” she said. “It’s very important to me to help my community in any way that I can.”
Liza MacKinnon, a good friend and an invaluable resource to Brook, hosted the gathering at Art Emergency on Sunday.
Brook is planning on hosting several other card making sessions. All are welcome:
• 2 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21 in the Lawrence Public Library auditorium
• 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25 at Art Emergency, 721 E. Ninth St.
• 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31 at Kay’s Garden at the Topeka Zoo, 635 SW Gage Blvd. in Topeka.
“The focus is to bring awareness to Meals On Wheels,” Brook said. “People enjoy making cards, and you know what they say — it’s a gateway craft to making art.”
If you are unable to attend but would like to contribute for supplies, Brook has a GoFundMe at this link. She can also be reached at kim.d.brook@gmail.com and can accept donations via Venmo.
During these times of unrest and uncertainty, Brook has offered us a way to come together that nourishes our community in an invaluable way.
If you are unable to contribute now, consider reaching out to Brook to express your interest in 2027. Who knows what her goal will be next year!
About the writer
Tom Harper is a Realtor at Stephens Real Estate helping people in Lawrence and Douglas County buy and sell real estate. He is the founder of Lawrence Modern, a group whose mission is to raise awareness of midcentury and modern architecture. You will find him posting frequently on Instagram under @lawrencemodern, sharing his daily observations of his favorite place on earth: Lawrence, Kansas. Read more of Tom’s writing for The Lawrence Times here.
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Tom Harper/Lawrence TimesTom Harper: Lawrence volunteers craft a story we need right now (Column)
