Arizona native writes more than 20,000 love notes to first responders

BUCKEYE, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) – One woman’s random acts of kindness have turned into a movement.

Arizona native Natalie Reilly started “Nothing but Love Notes” four years ago on Valentine’s Day with her mom who was fighting cancer.

[WATCH: Arizona woman leaves love notes for first responders]

“We had a bunch of thank-you notes, threw them on the kitchen table, and she always had an affinity to first responders,” said Reilly. “We got her in the car, drove around three hours and looked for them.”

Although Reilly’s mom is gone, their tradition lives on. Reilly continues to deliver love notes to first responders every day. She keeps them in her purse and hands them out whenever she sees someone in uniform.

“You give them these cards, and they literally break down, and it’s beautiful because I think sometimes the strongest ones need it the most,” said Reilly.

Friday, she gave love notes to Buckeye police officers.

“It seems like Natalie’s notes find people on bad days or just long days, when you’re tired and drained, and it kind of recharges you,” said Sgt. Zachary Astrup with the Buckeye Police Department.

Last year, Reilly would up finding love through her love notes. She met her boyfriend, a retired police officer, when she gave him a love note about a year ago.

“Nothing but beauty has come from giving back from that loss,” said Reilly.

She said she thought of her mom each time she gave out more than 20,000 love notes in the last four years. She wants to encourage others to write love notes to first responders.

Courtesy of AZfamily.com

For more on this story and to see the video visit Arizona Channel 3 news https://www.azfamily.com/video/arizona-woman-leaves-love-notes-for-first-responders/video_6c73c842-d142-504c-bfca-10b4c0228249.html