With a passion for helping others, freshman Sydney Kaps launched her community service project this past year. The project, Letters to Heroes, started with a desire to show how grateful she was to the many healthcare workers who risk their lives everyday.
“Letters to Heroes is a project that involves sending appreciation to healthcare workers in different formats,” Kaps said.
The desire to launch the project started with her uncle, a healthcare worker, and her wish to show other healthcare workers her appreciation.
“What inspired me to [bring] this project to American Heritage was my Uncle Jeffrey, who is an anesthesiologist at Cleveland Clinic and has been working diligently during this difficult time,” Kaps said. “He made me think of all of the healthcare workers who are doing the same tasks daily. We should be able to thank those who are risking their lives to protect us.”
Kaps recently decided to not only include her own club members into her project, to also invite all the clubs to participate through the Inner Club Council (ICC).
“What made me branch the project out to the entire ICC is that I wanted everyone to be able to participate in this activity. Giving thanks to these heroes is vital because they are working to save people’s lives everyday,” Kaps said. “It is especially daunting during this time with COVID-19. However, these amazing people still risk their lives. This deserves special recognition from us.”
Kaps also hopes to show students how much showing appreciation could mean to someone, regardless of how it’s delivered.
“A little gift can go a long way. While a simple letter may not seem as though it carries significance, knowing that someone cares about your work and your contributions can be meaningful and inspiring,” Kaps said.
As for the healthcare workers, Kaps hopes they understand that they are seen, encouraging others to participate in showing their appreciation as well.
“I would just like to mention that I hope everyone gets involved and sends letters to these outstanding heroes.”
If you’re interested in participating in the “Letters to Heroes” project, email Sydney Kaps at [email protected].
