LEWISTON – For the 29th time, the United Valley Chapter of the Red Cross is collecting valentines for veterans.

The nonprofit group hopes to collect several hundred cards, both homemade and store-bought, to be distributed to veterans at the Togus VA Medical Center.

If there are enough, the Red Cross hopes to send cards to soldiers in Iraq, too.

Last year, the Lewiston-based office collected about 300 cards, which were handed out on the morning of St. Valentine’s Day.

Children at area elementary schools have been making cards for more than a decade.

“We’ve had all kinds,” said Jerry DeWitt, who helped start the program in 1976. They’ve taken the shapes of flags, carried messages of patriotism and wishes to get well.

Anyone wishing to submit the valentines may drop them off by Friday, Feb. 11, at the United Valley Chapter office on East Avenue in Lewiston.