For thousands of seniors, Meals on Wheels Orange County provides not just a meal.

It’s also a friendly visit that can reduce isolation and loneliness. On Valentine’s Day, it will come with a fun bonus.

One hundred children in YMCA of Orange County after-school programs have been decorating 500-plus valentines over the last couple of weeks. The valentines, along with little plush toys, will be delivered to seniors with the Feb. 14 meal delivery.

“They can think about more than just their own little world,” said Krista Poitras, YMCA of Orange County child and youth development director. “They think about other people.”

Students at the Peterson Elementary YMCA location in Huntington Beach were hard at work designing some of the valentines on Wednesday afternoon.

Leila, 8, a third-grader at Peterson, focused intently as she finished off her first Valentine’s Day card.

“I think it’s a really nice thing,” Leila said. “I think it’ll make people very happy, make them smile. I like Valentine’s Day. It’s the same month as my birthday, and I like seeing all of flowers, chocolate and teddy bears in the stores and stuff.”

Support our coverage by becoming a digital subscriber.

All the latest on Orange County from Orange County.

Get our free TimesOC newsletter.

You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Daily Pilot.

Matt Szabo is a sports reporter for the Daily Pilot. A Southern California native and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo graduate, he has been covering sports for L.A. Times Community News since 2006, most extensively water polo and tennis. (714) 966-4614

Make-A-Wish fundraiser, returning to Huntington Beach after three years, is back ‘In the Bag’

TimesOC: Santa Ana officer criticized for trying to prevent public filming

Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts stages ‘stripped-down version’ of ‘Hamlet’

Man pleads not guilty to allegations of threatening a mass shooting at UC Irvine

Costa Mesa Police searching for information after 4 ducks shot, killed at TeWinkle Park

Newport Beach home red-tagged after fire Wednesday causes extensive damages

Huntington Beach resident arrested in drug trafficking investigation

No injuries reported in three-alarm structure fire in Irvine

Burglars break in through second-story windows at 2 houses in Newport Beach