Land O’Lakes High School Red Cross Club Hosts Holiday Mail for Heroes Project

“We’ve been doing Holiday Mail for Heroes for a long time. It’s a great way to give back during the holiday season…and our club members understood that we were writing to people who have sacrificed a lot for our country,” says Mi Le, President of the Land O’Lakes High School Red Cross Club.

Last December, 26 Red Cross youth volunteers partnered with the National Honor Society to craft 97 cards for an annual American Red Cross campaign thanking military members, veterans, and their families. The success of this event inspired a Valentine’s Day card-making event, which generated another 26 cards.

Ralph Tauran and Nikhil Dutt design cards

 “We wanted to make individual, unique cards, instead of generic ones. We gathered anything we could find, brought materials to the club meeting, and brainstormed to craft some meaningful messages.” The Land O’Lakes club of Florida sought to show their gratitude and appreciation to heroes and make an impact on their community. Their handmade cards reflect their creativity, love, and thankful thoughts.

In addition to donating the cards to the Red Cross chapter in their area, club members also sent cards to Central Florida members of the U.S. Central Command Coalition at MacDill AFB in Tampa, Florida.

Finished holiday cards from December event

“I loved having the opportunity to help people out and bring a smile to the faces of our servicemen and women, as well as children in my community,” says club officer Saloni Mehra. Their devotion to community service is inspiring.

For more information on volunteering with the American Red Cross, visit http://www.redcross.org/volunteer/become-a-volunteer#step1.

For more information on the Holiday Mail for Heroes project, visit http://redcrossyouth.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/HolidayMailForHeroesActivityGuide.pdf.