People from all over the country joined together to support health care workers and those affected by the coronavirus during a virtual letter-making event on Saturday. 

Staff members from San Jose State’s Hammer Theatre Center hosted “Letters to Heal,” an online event where community members wrote letters to health care workers, recovering COVID-19 patients and the elderly. 

More than 50 participants from all over the country attended the event.

“Our goal for this event is to reach out and encourage the incredible health care workers who are serving on the frontline of the pandemic, those who are suffering from COVID, as well as those who are isolated because of it,” said Maria Bones, director of patron services at the Hammer Theatre Center.

The director of patron services plans and delivers front-of-house support for performing art organizations. 

Considering COVID-19 restrictions, the staff made the event accessible to anyone by utilizing Zoom and advertising the event on volunteering websites. 

As participants were welcomed, Bones said during the event she was excited to see so many people from different places. 

The event was referred to as a day of service by the staff. There were two breakout rooms available to all volunteers. 

Participants had the option to join either the writer’s workshop, the next step resources room, or stay in the main room. All of the rooms offered different information including where to send the cards or tips such as where to find inspiration. 

Samantha Schuh, a college student from Bowling Green, Ohio, said she found the event through VolunterMatch.com, a website listing volunteer opportunities. Schuh is a member of a scholarship program that requires at least 10 hours of volunteer work. 

Last March, Schuh tested positive for COVID-19. She credits that as part of the reason she decided to volunteer for this event.

“Being ill like that in my home is not fun since I wasn’t able to be in the same room with anyone else in my family, Schuh said in a Zoom message during the event. “No one deserves to battle this disease alone.” 

Schuh wasn’t the only one who was looking to volunteer. Ianne Chang and Payton Gegare, two high school students from Wisconsin, said they found out about the event through the same website as Schuh.

“I thought it would be a fun time to make cards for people and gain volunteer hours,” Chang said in a Zoom message during the event. “I will probably continue making cards after the event is over.” 

Gegare said she  was making cards for a different reason. 

“My mom has connections to a hospital in my area, so I want to bring my cards to them,” Gegare said. 

Regardless of their reasons, Bones considered the event a huge success.

“It’s a very cool idea and I’m happy organizations and programs are still finding ways to reach others,” Gegare said.