Despite the dull mood of most students during lunch due to the rain pouring nonstop and teachers driving them crazy, most spent their lunch at the Red Cross Club,  making cards for a nearby Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. On September 28th, the Red Cross Club helped with a heartwarming effort in making 36 cards total in just a 30-minute time period, each one destined to make a different child happy.

These cards were not just ordinary cards, these cards signified how much students at PB appreciate and care for kids who are in the hospital due to numerous reasons. Mrs Weiss, the club’s Sponsor, said: “The club is a great opportunity for students to participate in their community and give back to those in need.”

The crowd was large, as expected, and the room was filled with laughter, joy and bright ideas. The students along with all of the Red Cross team made these cards in different languages, along with stickers and decorations involving the emotions students felt to express for these children.

For the past two years since the Red Cross Club has formed, they have worked with several groups in order to help them get as much donation or gifts they need to be successful. The biggest goal is aiming their donations at the American Red Cross and helping organizations such as homeless shelters and children’s hospitals. The president of the club, Prabhleen Batra, loves the role she plays in this club and said: “The Red Cross Foundation is such an inspiring project that helps people in need all around the world, and my goal for the Red Cross Club at Paint Branch is to support this magnificent project as much as possible.”

Speaking of helping people, last year they had numerous projects and fundraisers for their club throughout the year. One was conducting a toy donation center in the main office where a total of 88 toys for the Toys for Tots organizations near Christmas were collected so all kids would have something to smile about on Christmas morning. Also, they conducted a bake sale after sports workouts where they sold healthy snacks and drinks to help with the students who are in after-school sports and workouts to help keep them hydrated. Around that time, earthquakes and other natural disasters occurred, so they collected money to help pay for rebuilding towns and villages around the world, coming up with $110.