With pandemic safety measures still in place for Newtown United Methodist Church, Hearts of Hope-Newtown has gone curbside with its monthly painting parties.

For the second month, HOH-Newtown will not host an in-person event. The June 10 Paint With A Purpose gathering was canceled.

Instead, on Wednesday, June 17, from 6 to 7 pm, the public is invited to visit the parking lot of the church, 92 Church Hill Road, to pick up Hearts of Hope painting kits.

HOH-Newtown President Pattie Ptak said the inaugural event in May was very successful.

“It went over amazingly well,” she told The Newtown Bee on June 3. “I was a little apprehensive when Ann Basso suggested it, but then the next thing we know, we were giving out hearts like crazy.”

The May event resulted in “just under” $700 being donated to Hearts of Hope, according to Ptak.

To participate, find Hearts of Hope of Newtown, CT on Facebook, and look for the Eventbrite link. Those who would like to order the palm-sized ceramic hearts, which are $6 each, can make a reservation for as many as they would like to receive, through that page. Each heart will also be accompanied by bubble wrap, note cards, and ribbon, “everything they need to complete a heart,” according to Ptak.

Upon request, a limited supply of paint and brushes is also available.

For additional information or to make a reservation, Ptak can also be reached at newtown@ourheartsofhope.org or 203-828-8103.

Once the painted hearts are returned, HOH-Newtown volunteers will distribute them to frontline workers who have been so essential during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since March, Ptak said last week, the group has given away 2,000 hearts to healthcare and other essential workers. Among those was a group of employees at ShopRite in Southbury.

“We received a thank you note from one of ShopRite’s employees,” Ptak said. “She thought it was so nice that we thought of them as frontline, essential workers.”