People Spread Love will officially be ten years old on June 18th, 2025!
We proudly share our story with ten facts about our organization that you might have not known about:
10) Sorrow to Solace | 9) Meet & Makes | 8) Kindness Spreads | 7) Starter Kits | 6) Positive Impact | 5) Love Dropbox | 4) Human-Powered | 3) Free Hugs | 2) In-Classroom Programs | 1) Sustainability Promise
10 | Sorrow to Solace
We are humbled by this milestone of the organization — which first began as a movement when the Jackson Hole, WY community was moved to sign cards to express their shared sorrow for the nine Black individuals killed by a white supremacist in Charleston, SC. From a sorrowful beginning, the movement showed that the world needed more unity, hope, and empathy for one another — and so, People Spread Love (PSL) was born.
9 | Meet and Makes
PSL coined the term “Meet and Make” as our public events. We have hosted approx. 200 events in the past 10 years with countless partners and settings. Our first Meet & Make event in 2015 was at Intencions in Jackson, WY. We are tremendously grateful for the opportunity to gather, regular demonstrations of generosity and kindness that all can participate in together.
Each Meet & Make event has been unique, like:
- Yoga/Meditation
- Coffee shops
- Retail shops
- Art Gallery
- Real Estate offices
- Library events (empathy books recommended)
- Makerspace
- Art themes (watercolors, collages, origami, and more)
- Senior living centers
- Mental health/counseling centers
- Employee community service
See our public events scheduled.
8 | Kindness Spreads
This work has made it possible that our recipients span 41 states across the United States and 5 countries across the world. This work is possible with the “power of people” hence where People Spread Love’s name roots from.
7 | Starter Kits
Since the COVID pandemic, PSL knew that the world needed more connection. In 2021, the PSL Starter Kit program began. Each year since we’ve given two hundred kits to our volunteer base to help amplify connection. We also highlight the extraordinary artists the help this one-of-a-kind creation of the contents. Our 4th Edition will be ready in June 2025. Sign-up and become a PSL volunteer and choose “Mail to me” or “Pick-up” at our WY/ID locations.
6 | Positive Impact
PSL wouldn’t exist today if we weren’t sure if this work mattered. We hear from recipients and volunteers and the energy exchange of compassion is palpable. We are grateful to our volunteers, and for those who felt moved to reciprocate the gesture, this loop of compassion and connection that never ends. Read more testimonials here.
5 | Love Dropbox
Each PSL Dropbox features a dedicated station where passersby can familiarize themselves with this simple act of kindness initiative, conveniently located at their regular haunts (coffee shops, library, retail store, restaurants, community center, etc.).
The station includes a side table, a caddy stocked with writing materials (card paper, markers, pens, pencils), informative signage, and a QR code for volunteers to scan and discover “Who Needs Love.” Additionally, there will be a dropbox for them to deposit their completed cards.
Locations:
Valley of the Tetons – Makerspace | Driggs, ID
Community Resource Center of Teton Valley | Driggs, ID
Teton Geo Center | Driggs, ID
Jackson Hole Indoor | Jackson, WY
Teton County Library | Jackson, WY
Mountain Vibes Gift Shop | Bigfork, MT
Past locations:
Teton Arts Council | Driggs, ID
Valley of the Tetons | Victor, ID
Movement Gym | Timonium, MD
If you are interested in housing a dropbox at your place of business or organization, email hello@peoplespreadlove.com. Locations are subject to rotation based on the need and activity.
4 | Human-Powered
People make this work possible and for that we are grateful. Thank to our volunteers we have made the impact we have from a movement to a non-profit organization, the growth is all powered by loving humans. We continue to encourage all who resonate to volunteer their time and energy to pour compassion with others. Our volunteer program is accessible, simple and meaningful. We have monthly scheduled “in-office hours” to make our Love Ambassadors available to potential volunteers. Are you interested in being a part of this work? Sign our Volunteer Confidentiality Agreement to get started in becoming a Love Ambassador yourself. Peek at our Team Love page to see who’s been a part of dedicated work.
3 | Free Hugs
Free Hugs began for PSL after the Pulse Nightclub shooting in June 2016 in Orlando, FL resulting in 49 deaths and 53 injuries. One of the victim’s family members showed up with a “Free Hugs” sign outside of the nightclub in honor of their loved one. This gesture of “Hugs Not Hate” took off with many others doing the same.
2 | In-Classroom Programs
Our in-classroom programs provide a safe space to be kinder and more loving together. We integrate socio-emotional learning (SEL), creative writing, integrated visual arts, building healthy relationships, and community outreach. Check out a sample of our in-classroom programming found here (Google Doc). Over the years we have partnered with Girls Actively Participating! (GAP!), Above and Beyond the Classroom (ABC), Teton Science School and The Learning Academy. Our programs meet the age range from Pre-K up to 12th grade. And now more recently with the help of San Jacinto College in Houston, TX — college courses. See below reflection from their “Videos of Love” community service through their speech and writing course.
1 | Sustainability Promise
This year, we began our ‘Notes of Love to the Planet’—a sustainability promise to Mother Earth to make a conscious effort to reuse, renew, and repurpose materials in our volunteer work. We share how you can be a part of this effort and generate good energy globally. We can all do our part too.
Thank You to our Partners
For the past 10 years we have linked arms with businesses and non-profits and for their partnership we are so grateful. It takes a community to come together to build and grow a better place for us all.
Watch our Impact Video
Support this work and make a donation
Our communities are strengthened when we invest in the heart-centered work that brings the best of humanity to the front lines. Our goal on our 10th year of operation is to raise $10,000 to continue to provide a volunteer program that supports the need we are witnessing, to expand our in-classroom programs, to house more Love Dropbox locations, to host more events nationwide, and to reimagine a world with more compassion and connection. Let’s reimagine a better world together with people at the helm.