Valentine's Day "Bandit" shares the love at SHS
Posted on 02/14/2023
Valentine's Day "Bandit" shares the love at SHS(Sapulpa Herald, Micah Choquette) -- In 2018, crocheted hearts of yarn began to pop up all around the junior high and high school in Sapulpa on Valentine's Day.

Attached to little slips of paper with encouraging messages such as "You're brilliant! or "You're the bee's knees!" The hearts would be found all over the school-- on lockers, walls, vending machines, tables and desks.

Last year, we finally discovered the identity of the Valentine's Day bandit-- Madisyn (Madi) Green, now a Sapulpa High School senior.

In a recent story with Tulsa news station KJRH, Madi said, "Today's world isn't that lighthearted or fun, so if I can make it a little bit better."

Green's encouraging notes became almost a coveted piece of high school memorabilia as word began to spread about the fun hearts of yarn appearing every Valentine's Day.

An Madi's hopeful endeavor has caught on, as students who catch a heart might pass it along to their friends and classmates, or leave them for someone else to find.

This year, Madi made 1,208 hearts (a record) to spread around the high school the night before Valentine's Day. The hearts may be small but they take hours of work-- Madi crafting them by hand since last summer. She's been attaching the inspirational messages every year since 8th grade.

"I'd love to make the world a nicer place if I could," Madi said. "I don't know if little hearts will do that but maybe someday in the future I'll have something else I can do."

Since she's a senior this year, Madi printed the crochet instruction on the back of each card that carried a heart, hoping someone will take over the Valentine's Day tradition. She also posted instructions online at madi.page.

"I just want to make sure everyone feels loved," said Madi.

Thank you, Madi, for this gesture of kindness for the last five years!

News coverage:
KJRH: Valentine's Day Bandit: Sapulpa students spreading holiday love
KOTV: Sapulpa students get Valentine's Day surprise with crocheted hearts