Even through challenges, separations and hardships, the need to share special moments or celebrate never diminishes. The spreading of good cheer is a celebrated part of life, and Yard Fonts and RGV Yard Cards are both instrumental in bringing families and friends together one yard at a time.
With their decorative and creative front yard displays, the two Hidalgo County-based businesses splash color and spark celebrations, especially when loved ones cannot get together in traditional ways. The scenes have become common in many area neighborhoods as family, friends and supporters drive by homes adorned with the front yard decorations, honking and cheering, leaving gifts off for a child with a birthday or a 60-something marking retirement.
“Our goal is to spread joy in the Valley,” said Araceli Covarrubias, of McAllen, who runs and operates RGV Yard Cards with her husband, Miguel. “Celebrations had to be improvised, but the need to celebrate didn’t go away because of COVID.”
The same is said by Carlos Rivera and Cynthia Salazar, who own and operate Yard Fonts from Edinburg. The married couple are schoolteachers by day, and on many weekends are busy setting up front-yard displays throughout Hidalgo County.
“We’re taking a negative mindset from the pandemic and turning it into a celebration of life’s special moments” Rivera said.
Touching Lives
Photos from the Facebook pages of the two businesses are filled with the smiles of their customers as they stand or sit amid the front yard displays honoring them. Many of them are birthday celebrations for young children outside in their wonderfully adorned front yards.
The work of Yards Fonts and RGV Yard Cards isn’t only for the young. There have been plenty of celebrations for great bosses, teachers of the year and welcome homes for those serving in the military.
“Welcome Home Sailor,” one of the Facebook photos shows, indicating the variety of people touched by what Yard Fonts and RGV Yard Cards have done over the last year.
“We’re adding to what was there before,” Rivera said. “I feel like this is the new norm now, people are going to expect to have this.”
A Rise in Business
Both businesses previously dabbled with celebrations and parties. Starting last year, they were inundated with requests for the front yard visuals as the basis for outdoor/drive-by parties. It has kept them busy. Rivera and Salazar talked about having as many as 12 displays to set up a week, with most of them done on weekends.
Covarrubias and her husband have been just as busy. The displays and arrangements of both businesses are bold and creative. Some go across the expanse of large front yards, or in rows in more compact areas. The visuals are varied, using hearts, stars, rainbows, toys and dolls, flowers and cupcakes. They are all creatively arranged so there is no duplications among the displays. Both RGV Yard Cuts and Yard Fonts make each setup unique to what a customer requests for their presentation.
“We install the night before,” Covarrubias said. “We’re making memories, so we want the yard cuts to be special.”
The occasions have not always been festive. Rivera recalled one event where one front-yard setup was dedicated to the passing of a grandparent.
“You build relationships with your customers,” Rivera said. “You get to know the families and see what they’re feeling.”
Salazar was touched by a recent event she and her husband did for a special education student, and what it meant to the family.
“It’s very rewarding to see the joy in the children,” said Salazar, who is an elementary school teacher. “To see their faces light up makes what we do worth it.”
