Groups of volunteers fanned out across Newtown February 13 to ensure Newtowners felt the love of thousands of well-wishers from across the nation who created personal messages attached to ceramic Hearts of Hope.

Among those who hung the colorful hearts were Judy Pederson, the founder of Interregnum — the agency that established the community support initiative — who was joined to hang the ceramic offerings at Edmond Town Hall by Sue and Ryan Macheska of Montville, N.J. Meanwhile, Newtown residents Kari Rustici and Wendy Malloy hung Hearts of Hope in Sandy Hook Center, while local project coordinator Judy Vetare and her daughter, Sophia, headed to the Ram Pasture to decorate trees there.

Residents are encouraged to take the hearts and messages home when they find them.