H.E.A.R.T. Club organizes letter-writing campaign to support Parkland community

unnamed — The Mira Costa H.E.A.R.T. Club organized a new way to get connected with survivors of the Parkland shooting through sending letters. This image was taken from Kindness Week at Costa as the H.E.A.R.T. Club gifted teachers around the school.

Naomi Tsuang

News Editor

Mira Costa’s Helping Educate Acts of Respect Club hosted a letter-writing campaign throughout February and March to provide comfort and support for the students and staff of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Over 300 Costa students wrote letters to the students and staff of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School after former student Nikolas Cruz opened fire with an AR-15 rifle, killing 17 people on Feb. 14.

“We wanted Costa students’ voices to be heard so that the students know that we are there for them,” H. E.A.R.T. Club President and junior Rachel Johoske said. “We, [the H.E.A.R.T. Club], wanted to give back as a school and community as a whole to show unity with them.”

The H.E.A.R.T. Club decided to start the letter writing campaign in order to support those affected by the tragedy, Johoske said.The club sent approximately 250 letters to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 16. Students can write letters until the end of March, as a part of the campaign, and give them to H.E.A.R.T. Club members for the Manhattan Beach Unified School District to mail to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.

“Even though we are on the other side of the country, we can still help and be there for the students,” Johoske said. “Even though we have not personally been through what they have, we can give the students reassurance and support.”