Students volunteered to write letters to children with special needs during lunch on the quad Nov. 19. Community Council hosted the event during Community Service Week to benefit students of the Help Group, a nonprofit organization comprising nine schools that specializes in teaching children and teenagers with special needs in Los Angeles.
Community Council member Molly Block ’26, who proposed the school partner with The Help Group, said the Middle School previously held similar events.
“The event was always a huge success at the Middle School,” Block said. “Seeing how much joy and connection it brought, I knew it would be a meaningful way to build empathy at the Upper School.”
Community Council member Angela Ren ’26 said Community Council’s current goal is to improve the student body’s general outlook toward community service.
“Community Council, right now, is focused on building empathy to get the school community to see community service not as a requirement but as something they can enjoy doing,” Ren said.
The Help Group supports children, adolescents and adults with autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities, developmental delays, abuse and emotional challenges.
Connor Glass ’27, who attended the event, said he hopes the cards can help promote optimism among the students of The Help Group.
“Writing cards is very important so that we uplift the spirits of these kids who have been having a rough time recently,” Glass said. “We’re writing cards to help them feel better about their situation.”
