On Dec. 5, the Arts and Animation Club and the Red Cross Club teamed up to host an event called Cards for Veterans. Through this event, the leaders of the two clubs hoped to honor the veterans who fought for America by making cards for them, while spreading awareness about the American Red Cross’s Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) program.
Senior Reem A., the president of the Red Cross Club, first came up with the idea.
“For us, it’s not just about honoring service on one day, but about acknowledging the ongoing challenges many veterans face long after their service ends. Whether it’s mental or physical struggles it’s important to recognize and aid those in our communities who are struggling,” Reem said.
Reem wanted to partner with the Arts and Animation club to host this event, because she found the missions of both clubs to be closely aligned.
Senior Audrey B., who leads the Arts and Animation Club, agreed.
“With veterans on both sides of my family, I grew up looking up to individuals who sacrificed their normal life for a chance to make their home better,” Audrey said. “The general message of expressing gratitude to people who make our lives safer resonates with me”
To plan the event, they went on a few calls to plan out the event and contacted teachers and Student Council members for help. Flyers and announcements were also sent out to students.
According to Reem, the Arts and Animation Club’s contribution made the event that much more interactive. For example, Audrey created a tutorial to explain to students how to make a card using Canva.
Reem found the student participation at the event to be rewarding.
“One of the best parts of the live event was seeing students genuinely engage with the mission, sharing ideas, even asking if animations were allowed, and getting excited about their designs,” Reem said.
Card submissions closed on Dec. 19. Junior Olivia T., inspired by her personal interactions with struggling veterans, made the most cards at 20, while freshman Samantha M. won the best designer award for her hand-drawn card.
“The week I created those cards, I had recently volunteered at a nonprofit organization that provides meals to feed those experiencing homelessness. During this time, I met several veterans, which made me reflect on how many individuals who once served our country continue to face serious challenges after returning from deployment,” Olivia said.
Now, Reem and Audrey are logging in service hours for the volunteers and are coordinating with the Red Cross to distribute the cards.
To view all the cards from the event, visit this Padlet.
