For the holiday season, the National Honors Society (NHS) wrote meaningful and encouraging letters to patients at children’s hospitals through the nonprofit organization, Letters of Love. 

Senior NHS president Sophia Earle said she was pleased to see the amount of participation for the volunteer opportunity.

“I love seeing how many people are willing to contribute and willing to volunteer. It’s fun to see what everyone comes up with when they write the cards and it’s fun to see everyone have fun with it,” Earle said.

A big focus of NHS is providing occasions to volunteer and look out for the community, according to adviser Lindsay Meyer.  She said she supervised and encouraged the students to participate in this program.

“Letters of Love is a service opportunity to send joy and love to kids specifically in hospitals. We have students come and write letters that are for the season and then delivered to hospitals as a form of encouragement for people who are going through something,” Meyer said.

According to senior Alana Weiser, writing letters to patients was also a good opportunity to spread love towards other kids and bond with her peers.

“I feel like I’m making a difference in the kid’s life, who is probably not feeling great, and making them happy,” Weiser said.

Meyer said she loves seeing the students come together to help others as a community while still having fun. The more volunteers come and participate, the bigger impact is made on these kids’ lives, according to Meyer.

“NHS encourages students to think creatively about how they’re going to give back and volunteering is the primary focus of it. It makes (students) volunteer on their own and also come together to volunteer which is powerful,” Meyer said.

According to Earle, even when going through personal struggles, it’s important to keep others in mind and remain grateful for what you have.

“Children who are not necessarily with their families, because they’re in the hospital or are just having a rough year for the holidays, can know that they’re loved and can have something that means something to them,” Earle said.