Are you fed up with the mass shootings and wondering, “What can I do?” My heart goes out to the families and community – and imagine yours does too.

Violence is pure evil and we need true love to overpower it.

Dayton was home to our family for 13 years. I know the Oregon district and Bellbrook well. I raised my kids in Dayton and even though we live in Atlanta, I feel for every family and people in the community. As a Mom of three 20-something children, this is NOT the type of world I want my children and future grandchildren to live in. This level of violence and fear is just not right. Fear seeks to cast doubt and divide us. Love seeks to unify us. As humans we are made for connection and community. We crave peace, joy and love. So, I did what I always do when I feel overwhelmed. I called some friends and we talked and then we talked about ‘What can we do?” You and I can do things to build stronger, safer families and communities. What we’ve done in the past simply isn’t enough and it’s not working. Friends and I made a ‘Love Pledge’. We’ll do more. We’ll contact our legislators and tell them we want responsible gun control. We’ll advocate for better mental health care, access to care and support for families. One dynamic woman decided she will run for office. Another caring friend will spend more time with her grandkids, instilling them with strong moral values and she’s going to help other youth more. As the inventor of the Original Love Box, the Love Agents and I have decided to surround our Dayton friends with Love – by sending love notes and Original Love Boxes. The families, 1st responders, community members, bar patrons and establishment owners will know we love them and that they’re not alone. 

That’s what WE can do: come together, support one another and ‘Love our neighbor’, both near and far.

Will you join us in prayer and love note writing? On Tues., 8/13 we’ll gather at Papa Jacks in Flowery Branch, Georgia, from 6:30 pm – 8 pm. Stop by any time. If you can’t make it, you can write love notes on the Original Love Box fb page and a Love Agent will handwrite it. If you want to support the effort financially, you can give a family or families an Original Love Box for $35 each. You can give here: https://www.paypal.me/christinemartinello/ These are challenging times, yet we can have hope for the future. Remember, this is a time of re-awakening. A time where the darkness is being exposed to the light and we all have a choice as to how we’ll move forward. Know you are loved. In fact, you are Adored. And you have absolutely nothing to fear. Love wins. Your hands and heart prove that. OX, Christine Martinello Founder, Original Love Box Thank you for your support: https://www.paypal.me/christinemartinello/ Love Agents and Christine Martinello, Inventor of the Original Love Box send Dayton love. Original Love Boxes, and handwritten love notes will surround families, 1st responders, hospital personnel and Oregon District establishments. #Daytonstrong #Love #Dayton #LoveAgent #massshooting #family #business #OriginalLoveBox #heart #sendlove