Hearts of Pine: The Story of the Valentine's Day Bandit
Every February, secretive groups of “Valentine’s Day Bandits” hang hundreds of simple red hearts on buildings all over Portland to spread love and cheer during Maine’s long, frigid winters. It’s a tradition that’s been going on for nearly five decades, reflecting the communal love and kindness that characterizes Portland. And this year, the Bandits seem to have struck the city’s brand-new USL soccer club, splattering a polka-heart pattern all over their away jerseys.
It’s another beautiful drop from Hearts of Pine, who are quickly becoming one of the most beloved grassroots teams in the nation.
The “Bandit Kit” might just be the perfect Valentine’s Day surprise for all of us soccer fans, and there’s no doubt we’ll be blowing our date night budgets on getting these threads.
Of course, the creative design of the jersey will grab all the eyeballs, but there’s also a heartwarming addition to the club’s latest kit.
On the sleeve of the Bandit kit is The Dempsey Center, a new Hearts of Pine partnership that embodies the love and kindness inherent to Mainers. The Dempsey Center was founded by Maine native and actor, Patrick Dempsey, in 2008 after his mother’s experience with cancer and as a way to give back to his hometown community of Lewiston. Just like the Maine Office of Tourism partnership for the club’s home kit made sense, this collaboration with The Dempsey Center elevates this jersey to yet another exceptional community-first jersey by Hearts SC.
Photography by Josh Lane & Lauryn Sophia
