This morning, residents and business owners throughout the Greater Ashmont Main Street district woke up to messages of love and kindness spread around the neighborhood. But it wasn't Cupid’s doing.

Earlier this month, Greater Ashmont Main Streets (GAMS) teamed up with Everyday Boston, a nonprofit connecting neighbors throughout the city, to participate in their 7th Annual “Love Your Wicked Awesome Neighbor” Valentine’s Day Challenge.

The event encourages community members to make a Valentine's card and hand it out to someone they don't know.

“[Everyday Boston] just started creating these cards as a way to bring some sense of kindness and love into the lives of people who might be feeling like they need it,” said founder and creative director Cara Solomon. “You have no idea what anyone is going through, and a few kind words can make all the difference.”

This year alone, the challenge has produced around 11,000 cards, many of which are made by formerly incarcerated members of Everyday Boston, that will be distributed across the city.

Ellen Marrone, the executive director of GAMS, got her community involved by working with local businesses to host card-making stations. This included businesses like The Local Hand, Ripple Cafe, Tavolo Ristorante, and even Back to Life Chiropractic & Wellness.

“We decided to take part in this challenge, and it worked out really well in my space because I have a lot of art supplies and a big table where people can sit and make cards,” said Michaela Flatley, owner of The Local Hand. “We have something called Tuesday night studio, so the past couple of weeks when people have come to that, I've encouraged them to make valentines, and they love doing it.”

She added: “I think we’re at a time culturally that feels very divided, and it feels scary to a lot of people. I’m hoping this can be an antidote to that and make people feel like they are loved by their neighbors. We’re a strong neighborhood, and we can send each other messages of love without letting our differences get in the way.”

Right next-door, residents had the chance to make cards while sipping wine or enjoying Italian dishes at Tavolo.

“I thought it was a different and cool thing to make people feel a little bit connected,” said restaurant general manager Tara O’Riordan. “There are so many different things to be connected to, and we are all always in our own lane.”

Making and distributing cards inspired community members to leave their lanes and cross paths. As Solomon says, “Strangers are just neighbors you don’t know yet.”

In addition to cards, a local artist who wishes to remain anonymous, made and displayed around 100 polymer clay hearts up and down Main Street. Marrone said the hearts establish “a feeling of continuity and connectedness for everybody here.”

She added that the Valentine crafts are just the start of what's to come for the neighborhood.

“We also really want this as our kickoff for further beautification of the district. We have some longer-term plans for murals and other ideas for beautification, so this is kind of going to be the initial, really easy launch for the beautification.”