AARP Las Cruces Volunteers Channel Cupid

For the second year in a row, members of the Las Cruces AARP chapter turned into Cupids this Valentine’s Day -- sans the wings, bows and arrows -- to deliver roses to residents at seven assisted living locations in Las Cruces.

Ten volunteers delivered 500 roses to residents throughout the community to spread a little love on Valentine’s Day.


“We just thought it was important to show people, who may not be able to get out on Valentine’s Day, that someone was thinking of them and wishing them well,” said Prescilla Sarkozy, AARP Chapter Board Member. “And what better way to do so than with a beautiful flower.”

“All the residents gave us a warm ‘thank you,’” Sarkozy said.

The delivery was done through the Cupid Crew by Wish of a Lifetime, an AARP charitable affiliate. Wish of a Lifetime garners volunteers from schools, non-profit organizations, and other community groups throughout the country to participate in the Cupid Crew.

The Cupid Crew had its start in Denver, Colo., but quickly spread. This year, more than 1,500 teams distributed 330,000 roses to residents of nursing and assisted living homes across the country.

In November, the Las Cruces Chapter begins locating interested facilities, with a goal of delivering 500 roses personally to the selected locations. Chapter members design a Valentine’s Day card for posting at the location’s bulletin boards.

Once the flowers are delivered from the supplier, the very next

day, volunteers count, sort, and load roses into 5-gallon pails. A water, sugar, and vinegar solution is added to the pails to keep the roses fresh.

Volunteers start delivery on Valentine’s Day around 11:30 a.m. to find residents in the lunch area. Each team of 2 volunteers personally gives the roses to each of the residents.

“It is such a rewarding experience to see the surprise on their faces and the kind ‘thank you’ the residents give us as they pick their favorite rose color,” said Dave Lynch, Chapter Board Member, who organizes the local Cupid Crew each year.

The chapter is looking forward to the next Cupid Crew event in 2026.

Wish of a Lifetime from AARP grants wishes to people 65 and older in recognition of their special accomplishments, contributions an​d sacrifices. As one of AARP’s charitable affiliates, Wish of a Lifetime helps people fulfill their dreams while also combatting the negative effects of isolation and strengthening social ties and intergenerational connections. The mission of Wish

of a Lifetime from AARP is “to shift the way society views and values our oldest generations” by fulfilling seniors’ dreams and sharing their stories to inspire people of all ages.