By: Zahra El Kara
As November Settles in and Orange Lutheran leans toward a season of gratitude, several student-led service clubs have taken initiative with projects that are rooted in compassion, purpose, and community. Whether it’s through literacy outreach, healthcare appreciation, environmental awareness, or shelter support, all acts of service are creating a lasting impact on a wide range of communities.
ActGreen, led by Lucie Harrington, is organizing a community beach clean-up at Huntington Beach. This project is deeply tied to their love for Southern California’s environment. “The beach is such an abundant part of our lives, Lucie shared. Lucie’s motivation is that she “wants to give back to something that can truly be valued.” Preparing for the clean-up has strengthened ActGreen’s commitment to environmental service and has created unity and bonds among the members. They hope that their service work can remind the community that small acts of kindness towards the environment can spark awareness during the Thanksgiving season.
In similar spirit of service, Chapters for Change, led by Chloe Hon, is hosting a Thanksgiving book drive supporting Claremont Forum’s Prison Library Project. The club is collecting gently-used books to bring imagination and encouragement to people who don’t have access to reading materials. Chloe explained that the project perfectly aligns with their mission to spread literacy. She describes how “seeing students donate books has made us grateful for the privilege we have of accessing literature.” For Chapters for Change, the drive is not only about donating books, but also about strengthening the connection between OLu and the larger community. Their hope is that each book donated becomes a source of hope to those in need while the holidays approach.
Gratitude also plays a role for the Med Club, where Lexie Zhao and the club members are creating birthday cards and Christmas goodie bags for the hospital staff at UCI Medical Center. The club wanted to bless medical professionals during one of the busiest, most stressful times of the year. Lexie explains how “talking with healthcare workers has shown us how hard they work.” As they package treats and handwritten cards, Med Club hopes to brighten the days of those who are tirelessly serving others by expressing gratitude through handmade gifts.
Finally, Voices for Her, represented by Keira Howell, is contributing to the season of giving by supporting a shelter food drive in partnership with Homeaid OC. With a mission rooted in empowerment and empathy for women facing substance abuse, domestic violence, or other forms of hardship, the club believes every woman deserves a Thanksgiving grounded in comfort rather than worry. “We want our members to experience the joy of giving back,” Keira shared. Their project encourages students to share their blessings with those who are less fortunate, reflecting OLu’s mission to serve intentionally and generously.
Collectively, these initiatives reveal a common good throughout the OLu community, gratitude is best expressed while taking action in order to give back. From cleaning beaches to donating books, uplifting healthcare workers, and supporting families in need, OLu’s service-minded students demonstrate that even small acts of kindness can transform lives. This Thanksgiving, their efforts highlight how thankfulness grows when students step forward, work together, and choose to serve with purpose.
Photo Credits: Zahra El Kara, Caden Choi
