Students Spread Love With Valentines For Vets

By Susan Coney

Fifth and sixth grade students from the Reed Interact Club spent time during their regular meetings in January to work on making valentines for American veterans. On Thursday, January 19, Newtown resident Barbara Krausz visited with the Reed Interact Club to explain to the children the importance of remembering our veterans.

Ms Krausz explained that the General Federation of Women’s Clubs in a joint effort with the Newtown Woman’s Club plan to make and deliver hundreds of valentine greeting cards to local veterans. She told the students that to make this goal possible, the groups needed the assistance of area children. Ms Krausz told the students that men and women who served in our military and are residing in Connecticut veterans hospitals will be the recipients of the cards.

“Newtown is really a very giving community. Several of the members from our women’s group have someone serving in Iraq now, so this project is close to our hearts,” Ms Krausz said. She continued saying, “The veterans at these hospitals have served our country. The cards will really perk them up. I have spoken with nurses that work with these people and they say that the vets are thrilled to get the cards. They are just happy to get a card and to know they are not forgotten.”

After Ms Krausz spoke with the group, Interact Club advisor Gina Swanson, who is a fifth grade teacher at Reed School, held a card making workshop for club members, providing them with an opportunity to make valentines for the vets. She encouraged the children to include an upbeat message or short letter in the valentine to help personalize the card.

Ms Swanson said the Interact Club, which is involved in community service projects, began with just 11 members when Reed first opened only a few years ago. “This year we are up to 75 and growing,” she noted.

Samantha Baumgart explained as she was cutting out bright red, paper hearts, “Knowing you are doing something to help others makes you feel good.” Club members Kate Martinelli and Madelin Dorso agreed, saying that they both like to be involved in a lot of different kinds of activities and the Interact Club always gives them a good feeling because they have the opportunity to help others.

Ms Krausz enlisted the help of area Girl Scout troops and the students of Fraser-Wood in addition to members of Reed Interact Club to make a number of inspirational valentine greeting cards. Last year the General Federation of Women’s Clubs arranged to send more than 800 cards to Connecticut veterans.