Canfield High club collects cards of cheer for troops in Iraq

By Elise Franco

CANFIELD — Holiday cheer flowed through Canfield High School as students and faculty signed 1,343 cards that will be shipped to American soldiers stationed in Iraq.

Fifteen of the high school’s 55 Interact Club members headed the project, which adviser Evana Delon said was put together in a week’s time.

“I was at another district last week, and they had a thank you for sending 306 cards to soldiers,” she said.

Delon said she made several calls, and the project began.

“As soon as some of the Interact members heard about it, they jumped right on board,” she said. “No one had to call a meeting or ask for help. They just stepped up to the plate and did it.”

Delon said this kind of community project is just the type of thing the students who participate in Interact are trained for.

“Because of the training, you can give them any project and they could fly with it,” she said. “This project is an example of that.”

Senior and Interact Club President Nicole Yozwiak said they began by calling to ask for help obtaining the cards. On Tuesday they received a donation from someone who wished to remain anonymous.

The next day, committee members began putting the cards into teachers’ mailboxes with instructions to pass them around their classrooms Friday morning.

“The teachers gave them to their classes, and we went around to pick them up,” Yozwiak said. “We hand-delivered them to administration.”

She said the entire student body supported the project.

“They all liked it,” Yozwiak said. “Some of the sayings in the cards are really nice, and the soldiers will appreciate them.”

She said after collecting all of the cards Friday, the members spent about an hour stuffing them into pre-addressed envelopes.

“I liked the idea that the troops really had something from home to know we’re supporting them,” Yozwiak said. “We’re all thinking of them during the holidays while they’re over there fighting.”

She said the Canfield Rotary Club will also have the opportunity to sign the cards before they’re shipped to Iraq.

Delon said the USO Care Package Armory in North Canton will handle all the postage and shipping after Canfield High School teacher Anthony Holben drops them off on Monday.

“They will arrive in time for Christmas,” Delon said.

Yozwiak said this is the first time Interact Club has done any type of project for troops, but it won’t be the last.

“Next year we’re planning on doing this within the whole Canfield School District,” she said.

For information on how to send a card or care package to our troops overseas, visit www.usocleveland.org or go to www.vindy.com and click the banner “Operation: Holiday Cheer.”

efranco@vindy.com