
For
the
past
few
months,
healthcare
workers
have
been
on
the
frontlines
in
the
fight
against
the
COVID-19
virus.
Prince
William
County
Public
Schools
students
are
hoping
that
a
thoughtful
card
or
letter
of
thanks
can
provide
healthcare
workers
the
motivation
needed
to
push
through
long,
tiring
shifts.
Bull
Run
Middle
School
sixth-grader
Zoe
Moser
and
her
mom,
Shamika
Moser,
traveled
to
Kings
Mountain,
North
Carolina
to
quarantine
with
family
members.
The
mother
and
daughter
lived
in
that
area
before
moving
in
2014.
After
attending
a
virtual
church
youth
group
meeting,
Zoe
was
inspired
to
make
and
send
cards
to
healthcare
workers
at
three
assisted
living
homes
in
Cleveland
County,
North
Carolina.
She
also
made
cards
for
residents
who
are
not
able
to
have
visitors
during
the
health
crisis.
Zoe
said,
"It's
my
goal
to
make
people
feel
better,
one
card
at
a
time."
So
far,
she
has
created
and
sent
40
cards.
Her
mom
said,
"My
daughter
has
inspired
me
not
to
panic
during
this
time,
but
to
instead,
spread
love
and
cheer."
Bull
Run
Middle
Principal
Matthew
Phythian
is
very
proud
of
Zoe.
"I
am
inspired
about
Zoe's
empathy
and
compassion
for
others
during
a
difficult
time
in
our
nation.
It
is
always
exciting
to
see
students
act
on
a
dream
and
see
the
positive
impact
that
it
has
on
others
in
the
community,"
he
said.
Battlefield
High
School's
Key
Club
members
also
took
part
in
the
card
and
letter-writing
efforts,
sending
their
appreciation
to
local
healthcare
workers.
Cards
were
delivered
to
staff
at
Novant
Health
Medical
Center
in
Haymarket.
Key
Club
sponsor
Mary-Beth
Starkey
also
mailed
some
to
a
friend
who
works
as
a
social
worker
at
a
hospital
in
Chicago,
Illinois,
one
of
the
hardest
hit
locations
of
the
pandemic.
Fellow
Key
Club
sponsor
Elizabeth
Bereczki
also
sent
some
to
the
medical
staff
working
in
the
COVID-19
unit
at
the
Virginia
Hospital
Center
in
Arlington
and
to
her
mom,
who
works
in
the
medical
records
department
at
Allegan
General
Hospital
in
Allegan,
Michigan.
Club
secretary
and
sophomore,
Emma
McMurrer,
said,
"I
made
the
cards
to
put
a
smile
on
our
community
members'
faces
and
to
thank
all
of
the
healthcare
workers
who
are
saving
lives
with
their
heroic
acts.
I
thought
this
was
an
amazing
way
to
help
our
community
while
social
distancing."
Classmate
and
fellow
sophomore,
Michelle
Kim,
added,
"I
wanted
to
let
them
know
how
appreciated
they
are
and
how
valuable
their
work
is
for
the
community.
I
also
hoped
that
these
words
of
gratitude
and
encouragement
would
give
them
strength
and
remind
them
of
their
importance."
Word
about
the
cards
made
by
the
Battlefield
Key
Club
spread.
"We
received
a
forwarded
message
to
our
social
media
from
Arbor
Terrace
Sudley
Manor,
a
senior
living
facility.
They
were
requesting
cards,
artwork,
letters,
etc.
for
patients
during
this
time,
since
visitor
numbers
have
decreased
due
to
COVID-19,"
Starkey
shared.
Always
ready
to
serve,
the
Key
Club
jumped
into
action,
creating
another
batch
of
cards
for
the
Arbor
Terrace
residents.
"The
impact
to
me
in
seeing
our
students
contribute
to
their
community
during
this
time
is
immense.
I
hope
our
members
gain
the
knowledge
that
though
life
may
be
filled
with
extreme
disappointments
and
hardships,
there
is
always
a
way
to
make
the
best
of
a
situation
and
to
help
those
who
circumstances
are
not
as
positive,"
Starkey
shared.
Even
some
of
the
School
Division's
youngest
students
are
involved
in
this
kind
gesture.
In
a
virtual
class
meeting,
Marshall
Elementary
School
third-grade
teacher,
Cyrene
Reyes,
talked
with
her
students
about
the
job
of
first
responders.
She
encouraged
students
to
write
letters
of
thanks
to
those
who
put
themselves
at
risk
while
helping
others.
Students
read
and
talked
about
the
letters
that
they
wrote
during
a
virtual
class
meeting.
Initially
Reyes
planned
to
share
the
letters
on
social
media,
but
Sarah
Lui,
the
parent
of
a
student,
volunteered
to
help
with
the
project.
Students
mailed
their
letters
to
Lui,
who
will
deliver
them
to
Sentara
Hospital.
"I
hope
my
students
will
be
more
appreciative
and
kinder
to
the
people
around
them.
It
is
my
hope
that
they
realize
that
no
matter
how
bad
a
situation
is,
it
can
get
better
when
people
work
together,"
Reyes
shared.