[0:00] I started this project as a way to get [0:02] students involved in their communities [0:04] and to teach them the importance of [0:06] giving back and um just teach them about [0:10] empathy. So part of our character strong [0:12] curriculum focuses on empathy. So, um, [0:15] we we take that opportunity to teach the [0:18] students how although we don't know [0:20] exactly what these people are going [0:21] through, we're going to try to put [0:22] ourselves into their shoes and just send [0:24] them a little bit of joy and a little [0:26] bit of happiness and try to understand [0:28] that there are people that are going [0:30] through difficult times and just trying [0:31] to send them a little bit of um, our [0:34] happiness. This project was inspired by [0:36] my mom. Uh my mom battled with cancer [0:39] for 13 years and she unfortunately [0:42] passed August of 2024. [0:45] But when I wanted to do this project, I [0:47] remember sitting down with her while she [0:49] was going through her treatments and [0:51] asking her like, "Mom, what are some [0:53] things when you're sitting there that [0:55] you know just bring you comfort and [0:57] joy?" So all of the um items on the list [1:00] were things that my mom handpicked out [1:03] that were things that she would need or [1:06] use while she was going through [1:07] treatment. [1:09] My favorite part about this project is [1:11] when the students write letters to the [1:13] patients. Um and when the patients [1:14] receive the bags, they actually write [1:17] back to the students. Um so the students [1:19] will receive um letters and cards just [1:22] expressing how much their kind words and [1:24] their donations of the items impacted [1:27] them and made such a difference during [1:29] their chemo treatment.