Made with Love Club: Creating Cards Full of Kindness
Heartfelt cards handmade by members of the Made With Love Club.
The Made with Love Club is committed to bettering the community through the art of handwritten cards. Whether there are compliments, funny jokes, or creative drawings inside, first-time presidents Gianna Binder and Oryan Maximo bring their thoughtful contributions to care homes, children’s hospitals, homeless shelters and other non-profit organizations. They are driven by the belief that “even the smallest act of kindness can completely change someone's day,” says president Binder.
The club meets every other Friday in room 44, thanks to their advisor Ms. Cordell. They often have a goal number of cards to write each month, depending on the size and cutoff of the non-profit they are donating to. Though they usually donate letters, they also make crafts and care packages. However, supplies for these undertakings are significantly more expensive, so they are done much less frequently. In addition, at last year’s open house, they made friendship bracelets, which they sold for five dollars a piece. All proceeds went to the Best Friends Animal Society.
Upcoming events related to the “small acts of kindness” that fuel Made with Love Club consist of more anonymous letter drives, likely working with hospital foundations for the elderly. Larger projects involving these positive letters include larger care packets with loads of kindness, often referred to as ‘bundles.” Other plans are currently in store to host fundraisers at CCHS to support these healthcare institutions, with sale ideas such as baking and possibly collaborating with other clubs in future hosted events. Their goal-setting focuses on “making someone’s day through sending gifts and positivity, whether it be by fundraising or handmade projects,” says Gianna Binder.
What club members write in these letters matters. Presidents Oryan Maximo and Gianna Binder make it clear that these letters are “meant to bring smiles" to those who may need an extra dose of compassion in their life at the moment. To this end, writers in the club pay special attention to the content of their language in order to avoid upsetting language associated with struggles their recipients find themselves in, especially if long-term recovery is uncertain. Club members are sure to avoid phrases relating to “get better soon” or “you’ll be back on your feet in no time”. Additionally, because these letters are delivered anonymously, writers make sure to keep the content impersonal and not tailored to any specific social group, especially around the holidays. Overall, the most important part of the letters is the kindness and care their words contain. As Gianna Binder says, “caring is in the small things.” You can learn more about the club on their Instagram account, @madewithloveclub.
“Caring is in the small things” - Gianna Binder