Patients at Children's of Alabama received a heartfelt show of support this Valentine's Day, thanks to an annual card drive that brought in more than 3,000 messages of encouragement from across the state.

According to a news release the hospital partnered with Spire to host the initiative, which kicked off Feb. 1. On Friday morning, staff from the Alabama Children's Hospital Foundation and hospital volunteers distributed goody bags filled with Valentine's Day cards and age-appropriate gifts, offering a moment of joy to young patients spending the holiday in the hospital.

"It is so hard on patients to be in the hospital, especially on a fun day like Valentine's Day," said Mindy Wald, community development manager at Children's of Alabama. "These cards are a simple gesture that goes a long way for our patients and their families. It brings them a lot of joy."

Spire, a longtime supporter of Children's, has sponsored the card drive since 2017. The energy company also matched donations made during the initiative, contributing up to $5,000 to support the hospital's programs.

"At Spire, we believe giving back to our communities is one of the most important things we can do," said Joe Hampton, president of Spire Alabama, Gulf Coast and Mississippi. "The joy created by the Valentine's Day card program at Children's allows us to see how investing our time and energy directly impacts the patients and families they care for. And that's something all of us at Spire are proud to support."