Marywood Student Making Valentine's Cards for Sandy Hook
By: Eric Deabill
Updated: February 5, 2013
Scranton, Lackawanna County - As the two month anniversary of the deadly shooting in Connecticut approaches, a college sudent in Lackawanna County is on a mission.
Amanda Greenwood has started a campaign to collect hand-made Valentine's Day cards to brighten the spirit of the young kids affected by the tragedy.
Greenwood is a junior studying hospitality and marketing. She grew up just minutes away from Newtown and still has a lot of connections there.
Her campaign is called "Love is stronger than violence."
As she went through a box full of cards already donated, Greenwood couldn't help but smile Monday afternoon.
"All the love that is in these cards, it really warms my heart and I hope that it brings smiles back to those kids," Greenwood said.
After seeing the effect of the Sandy Hook school shooting on her community she decided to take action.
Marywood students quickly jumped on board and word spread across the community and across the state.
"They're made by kindergarteners. We have pictures of ones where students have made hearts on the front and then there's some pictures with classes that are just making hearts with their hands," Greenwood said.
The cards will be given to the kids on Valentine's Day. That is the two month anniversary of the tragedy.
"I think it's great. I think it shows the initiative of Marywood students," Ross Novak, director of housing and residence life said. "I think Amanda did a great job with the planning of it."
Some of the cards have special messages but others just have pictures of drawings.
Even once all the cards are delivered, Greenwood hopes to keep her campaign going.
"I'm hoping to continue the project in the future with possibly establishing a pen-pal system or scholarships to honor students that show love is stronger than violence," Greenwood said.
Greenwood will continue to accept cards from people in the community through Friday afternoon.
Right now, she has roughly 1,000 cards but is hoping for between four or five thousand.
She plans to bring the cards to Newtown on Friday afternoon. She has already been in touch with the school to inform them of her collection.
For more information on how to donate cards, contact Amanda at loveisstronger1214@gmail.com.
