A jewelry store in Ventura, Calif., is giving away free heart necklaces to people who’ve lost their homes or jobs, a local television station reports.

Debbie Fox, co-owner of Fox Fine Jewelry, told KABC-TV, Los Angeles, she decided to give away free necklaces after witnessing the effects of the recession on her customers.

“Over the years, we’ve always had people coming in to sell us their jewelry,” Fox told the news station. “But in the last few months, there’s been a huge increase. And it hasn’t been people casually selling their jewelry; it’s been people who needed to sell their jewelry. And they weren’t selling everyday jewelry, they were selling their heirlooms.”

So just in time for Valentine’s Day, Fox told the station that she hopes to be giving away 200 of these heart necklaces will lift spirits of those in need.

See the story and a video of the report here.

Caption: Debbie and George Fox of Fox Fine Jewelry.

JCK