Hoffman Estates girls create cards for military personnel

While many kids their age are keeping busy this summer with sport camps, trips to the pool and sleepovers, two 10-year-old classmates from Hoffman Estates are spending multiple hours each week giving to others.

Last school year, Gianna Greco and Olivia Messerges worked on a project with their fourth grade class at Lincoln Prairie School called Operation Write Home.

The project was part of a national effort by crafters to create blank, handmade cards that are sent to military personnel who then use them to write their families back home.

The two girls had so much fun making the cards at school that they decided to each spend about $100 of their own savings to buy materials and make more cards over the summer.

Gianna’s mother, Honaire Greco, said she is impressed with how professional the cards look and how mature the girls have been in organizing and working on them.

“It’s nice to be able to recognize others and give back to others who are helping us,” Greco said. “They’re really responsible children. It’s really nice to see.”

Gianna and Olivia will be outside the Jewel-Osco at 1069 N. Roselle Road, near the corner of Roselle and Golf roads, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday to raise money to make more cards. The funds will be used to purchase supplies, ranging from stencils and ink to cardstock and stamps.

For more information or to get involved with Operation Write Home, visit operationwritehome.org.