FREELAND — A modest campaign to write sympathy cards to victim’s of last weeks shooting turned into much more.
Thousands of sympathy cards were collected over the past week. The destination, Newtown Connecticut. The cards, mostly hand-made, are from children in the Hazleton Area School District. Some of the card makers are the same ages as the 20 youngsters who were shot and killed. The project is the brainchild of the Mayor of Freeland, Tami Martin.
“You can actually read the hurt that these children are feeling. Not only is it going to help the children of Newtown Connecticut, it may help ours to understand it and heal a little bit too,” explained Martin.
Mayor Martin posted her idea on Facebook asking Freeland residents to get involved. Mayor Martin said idea then spread and expanded.
“As a mother of two, I can’t even imagine what they’re going through. My heart breaks for them, they need to know that they’re not alone,” said Martin.
The card writing campaign spread to other groups including nursing homes. Paula Hahn is the administrator of one.
“Looking at those letters in there it’s overwhelming, it’s overwhelming. I think everybody has the feeling of hopelessness and I feel if it makes them feel better that they did something or to cheer somebody up there up, then it would have been all been worth it,” said Hahn.
Mayor Martin said sometime after the first of the year she wants to personally deliver the thousands of cards and letters to a representative of Newtown, Connecticut.
