Cards for Kids Club president and junior Rithikka Anand writes a birthday card during a club meeting. Club members create handmade cards that are shipped to organizations supporting children in need.

Cards for Kids Club members at this school are making handmade birthday cards and shipping them to organizations that distribute them to children in need. Rithikka Anand, club president and junior, said the club works with a central location that helps distribute the cards to different groups.

“We just ship them out,” Anand said. “We go to the post office, we pay for packaging, and then we send them to a location that distributes them.”

According to Anand, the club does not decide exactly where each card goes.

“It’s honestly not entirely up to us. The location we send them to decides what to do with them, and they distribute them to places like shelters or foster care programs,” Anand said.

The idea for the club came from her interest in art and community service.

“I’ve always been passionate about art,” Anand said. “I was thinking of ways I could help my community and help other people, especially kids who might not get things like birthday cards.”

Co-president and junior Manha Syeda said the club focuses on giving back through small actions.

“As the upcoming generation, we’re soon going to be leading,” Syeda said. “Giving back to the community is something that’s not always emphasized, but it should be.”

Syeda said the club aims to make an impact even through simple projects.

“A big part of this club is just giving back to the community that we’re in and giving back to those in need,” Syeda said.

Lisa Drake-Pardue, club sponsor and French teacher, said she was motivated to support the club because of its purpose.