Gridley Chamber Spreads the LOVE Bug!
Apr 22, 2020 12:00AM ● By By Seti Long
Chamber President, Lynne Spencer (left) and Heart Hunter Gladys Howell (right), on a mission to spread the love! Photo by Seti Long
GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - Gridley Area Chamber of Commerce wants to enlist you to help spread the love, not the virus, during the COVID-19 lock-down.
The Chamber is joining the “Heart Hunters” movement, which has spread across the country since its inception in March. The idea behind the trend is for people to put hearts on their windows and front doors as a symbol of hope during the pandemic. People post pics of their work or photos of windows that they have “hunted” on the organizations Facebook page.
The Gridley Area Chamber of Commerce wants to help spread love and hope in our community, with our own Heart Hunt, said President Lynne Spencer. Following the Heart Hunters model, the Chamber is urging both homes and businesses in Biggs and Gridley to participate by decorating their windows with hearts but with a new spin – both decorators and hunters stand to win a cash prize.
This is how the Gridley-Biggs Heart Hurt works: Now until May 31st, residents and businesses are asked to decorate their windows for hunters to view. Heart Hunters, open to children and youth in our area (sorry adults) must submit a list with their name, mailing address and phone number to the Gridley Area Chamber of Commerce at 893 Hazel Street, with a list of the addresses of where they found hearts. On June 5th, displays will be judged and winners for each city will be given. Categories are Best Overall Display – $50 and Most Hearts Located – $25.
The Chamber Office has kicked the Heart Hunt off with a colorful burst of hearts completely filling their window – and the craze is already catching on!
Gladys Howell, resident of the Hazel Hotel has caught the bug. She has decorated her apartment windows with hearts and estimates that she has cut nearly 200 of the colorful shapes. She has spread the bug to her daughter in southern California. Howell urges the community to join the Chamber hunt saying, “I want them (the community) to spread the love. I want them to see that it’s not just about the virus. It’s more about love and treating each other with respect.” Howell continues, “I’ve had so much fun putting them up… has really touched my heart, no pun intended.”
