STATE COLLEGE — On a cold February afternoon, the warmth inside the State College Municipal Building had nothing to do with the thermostat.
Families drifted in and out of the building Saturday, Feb. 7, for Hearts and Heroes, a Valentine-themed community event hosted by the State College Police Department. From noon to 3 p.m., kids colored Valentine cards, tossed rings onto cones, enjoyed sweet treats and met officers all while parents chatted and lingered, grateful for a reason to get out of the house.
Officer Kyleen Abramson, the department’s community relations officer, said the event was designed to bring people together during a season when connection can be harder to find.
“I’m always trying to find new ways to have events that bring the community and officers together,” Abramson said. “In the winter that gets a little harder. People want to stay inside and be cozy and warm. I wanted to find something for February or March and thought Hearts and Heroes sounds like a good way to show the community that we love and support and care about them.”
Inside the room, tables were covered with Valentine-themed coloring sheets featuring hearts, police badges and smiling officers. Kids darted between stations while parents laughed, snapped photos and chatted with officers in a setting far removed from emergencies or flashing lights.
“We have make-your-own Valentine cards, coloring sheets, games…all Valentine’s Day themed,” Abramson said. “I love to color. It’s kind of soothing and calming. I think it’s a great way to sit, conversate and get to know each other a little bit better.”
For Ethin Walters, who attended with his daughter, the event was an easy choice.
“We’ve seen the advertisements for it and wanted to come out and support our local police,” Walters said. “It shows how it brings law enforcement together and the community together.”
Nearby, Fallecia Ehrmann colored with her daughter Maya, glad for an excuse to be out and about.
“We love to go to these types of events that State College or any of the police department offer,” Ehrmann said. “It’s cold outside, so we figured let’s not hunker down in front of a TV and get out and be around the town.”
She said events like Hearts and Heroes help kids see officers in a different light.
“Sometimes with how things are shown in the news, police aren’t perceived as the most friendly,” Ehrmann said. “To have my daughter be around police officers that aren’t in an emergency situation, it shows there’s more to them than just what’s behind the badge.”
For Samantha Neville and Ben Sinclair, who brought their two young children Kendall and Cash, the appeal was simple.
“We just came out to meet the troopers,” Sinclair said. “He [Cash] wants to be a police officer when he’s older. We missed them at the YMCA a month ago, so we thought this would be an opportunity to see the cops.”
Neville said the event mattered more than just the kids.
“It’s great for the kids and for the adults,” she said. “It’s nice to see people still getting together.”
Abramson said that kind of interaction is exactly the point.
“It’s so important,” she said. “We need to continue to find ways to communicate, answer hard questions and just be open and real with people.”
She added that community members are encouraged to share ideas for future events through the State College Borough website’s community relations page.
“If there’s anything the community wants out of us, I’m always open,” Abramson said.
On a chilly winter day, Hearts and Heroes offered something simple but powerful: a room full of crayons, conversations, connections and a reminder that sometimes, the best way to build community trust is just to sit down and color together.
