Oak Park High School welcomed the Spread Love club this year, hosted by junior Marissa Kalan. Members write cards and letters to various non-profit organizations with the hope of making a difference through positivity.

“I started this club as a way to bring joy and happiness to those who are less fortunate than people at Oak Park High School and those who could just use a little bit of happiness and brighten their day,” founder and president Kalan said.

Spread Love club has worked with many organizations throughout the school year, including Many Mansions, the Battered Women’s Shelter, Sharsheret and Operation Gratitude.

“[We’ve sent cards to] Operation Gratitude, which sends cards and letters in their care packages to deployed troops,” Kalan said. “We also sent cards to Sharsheret, which emotionally helps women battling breast cancer and ovarian cancer.”

Many students volunteer for the Spread Love club. Junior Shane Gerty joined to help create a more generous school environment. 

“I joined the Spread Love club because I think people have become insensitive, and people have just not been showing enough love around the community,” Gerty said. “We have to spread love and send messages back to people to spread it across the whole world.”

Spread Love Club meets once a month in I-01 at lunch. Kalan is always available for inquiries at [email protected].

“If you are looking for a relaxing lunch period and a simple and quick way to bring happiness to others, then this is the club for you,” Kalan said.