J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center in Morganton seeks Valentine’s Day cards for residents

The J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center is inviting Burke County residents, schools and businesses to send Valentine’s Day cards to help mark the holiday for people who live at the state-operated facility.

The center’s Volunteer Services Department will accept cards through Feb. 10, 2026, and distribute them to residents on Valentine’s Day. Organizers said residents welcome handmade valentines, store-bought cards, hand-drawn designs and coloring sheets.

The community response has grown in recent years. JIRDC said it received more than 11,000 cards last year, which the center called a sign of ongoing community support for residents.

To help ensure resident safety, the center is asking people to sign their cards and to avoid including candy, small items glued to cards, or anything placed inside the cards.

Cards may be hand-delivered to a drop box outside the JIRDC Administration Building at 300 Enola Road, Morganton, or mailed to:

JIRDC, Attn: Volunteer Services

300 Enola Road

Morganton, NC 28655

For businesses or schools interested in participating, JIRDC said staff can arrange a pickup time. To schedule pickup, contact Alicia Lorenzo Wilson, director of volunteer services, at 828-608-6212.

J. Iverson Riddle Developmental Center is a state-operated facility within the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services that serves people with intellectual disabilities and functions as the state developmental center for North Carolina’s western region.