The Giving Hearts club, a new club at Midlo, had their interest meeting in the library on Friday, February 9th to make Valentine’s day cards to send to nursing homes. The club was started by Addison Lloyd, 11, and Evelyn Stembridge, 11, in order to give back to the community and make it a better place. They were inspired after donating to Pink & Pearls, a charity that helps those with breast cancer. 

The club officers plan to do many different types of community service activities over the year. “I’m hoping we can do something for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, as well as the children’s hospital here in Richmond,” club sponsor Jillana Hicks said. Plans are also in the works to start several drives, including a school supplies drive, a Christmas gift drive, and a drive for food for the homeless, as well as several other activities. “We want to do, like, a teacher’s appreciation meeting, and write cards for them,” Lloyd said. 

Students have already shown an interest in the club. “We had 105 people fill out the form [for the interest meeting],” club officer Owen Heaton, 11, said. “The kids are excited about it… they’re really enthusiastic,” Hicks said. “I mean, they’ve done this. I told them, ‘I’ll be your sponsor, but this is your club. Y’all have to be my officers, y’all are going to do your work,’ and they’ve stepped up right to the plate.” 

Joining the Giving Hearts club is a way for students to earn community service hours while having fun at the same time. “You don’t have to just go pick up trash on the side of the road. You can hang out and have some good food and be with your friends,” Heaton said.