In an effort to appreciate healthcare workers currently serving in hospitals, Meghan Matthys (11) has started a project in which students can make virtual or physical thank-you cards and earn one community-service hour per card.

“My dad is a pharmacist at Winn-Dixie, and I noticed that he would come home after long days at work and be very fatigued and stressed,” Matthys said. “It made me realize how truly difficult this time is for healthcare workers.”

After contacting the school volunteer coordinator, Matthys began spreading the word via social media and has received an encouraging response from not only West Shore students, but from students at other Brevard County high schools as well.

“I’ve had a decent amount of cards sent so far, but I’m expecting more people to send them over the next week or two,” Matthys said. “Surprisingly, the idea spread to other local schools, and I’ve even gotten cards from Mel High students.”

Matthys will be accepting the cards through social media direct-messaging and email through Tuesday to then send them all at once to different wings of the Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne.

“I figured that if the workers were to receive cards thanking them for their help from local high-school students, they would feel much more appreciated,” Matthys said. “Hopefully, the cards help them de-stress after a long day.”

For more information or to contribute contact Matthys  on Instagram: @_meghannn20_ or by email at [email protected].

By Jade Norton