If you're feeling a little chilly today, let this story warm you up.

The distribution of Kindness Cards began Friday, finding their way into the hands of hospice workers, health care employees, first responders, seniors in care facilities and school staff members across the community.

A card in a bright pink envelope was opened by Coeur d'Alene Police records specialist Debbie Carpenter.

"This is so sweet," Carpenter said. "I am constantly overwhelmed at the kindness of our community, honestly. I get a little teary thinking about it."

At the Hospice of North Idaho Schneidmiller Hospice House, registered nurse Melody Affrunti opened a blue envelope. Inside was a card with the colored-in word "grateful" and a handwritten note on the other side that read, "Your work is important and appreciated. Thank you for taking care of us. Your kindness speaks volumes."

"It's very nice to know that we're thought of," Affrunti said. "It's things like this that remind us."

The messenger carrying these thoughtful notes was Jessica Mahuron, community organizer for the Civic Engagement Alliance, which, in conjunction with Love Lives Here CDA, coordinated the massive missive labor of love.

After calling on community members to contribute to the project more than a month ago, at least 500 volunteers in North Idaho and beyond stepped up to illustrate cards and write messages that would go to complete strangers to remind them the work they do is important and they are appreciated.

"This was a very far-reaching volunteer project," Mahuron said.

The volunteers, who ranged from students and church members to entire families and business teams, made more than 3,600 Kindness Cards.

"Global Credit Union found a flyer and they thought it was so cool, they'd been looking for an opportunity for their employees to give back," Mahuron said. "A lot of people told me this was a wonderful way for their family to get together and do something meaningful."

She said part of the whole point of this project is to foster positive connections across the community. The response from the beginning was resounding; people chipped in more than 10,000 volunteer hours to shower their neighbors with kindness.

Shawn Keenan, co-founder of Love Lives Here CDA, said right now, "there's a huge loss of human connection."

"Everyone's struggling to pick up bits and pieces of relationships, their friends, their family," he said. "Even those relationships are super strained right now."

He said many people are feeling lonely, isolated or overtaxed from working on the front lines, or tired of taking flack for trying to keep their community safe.

"The mental health issue is where this is really going to give a little relief to people," Keenan said. "Just a random card can put the biggest smile on your day. We're just looking for little bits of joy to deliver to people in our community right now."

More cards will be delivered after Valentine's Day.

Info: www.civicengagecda.com