Michelle Peterson/Winonan

Do you feel thankful today?

Students hosting Project C.A.R.E., which stands for Compliment And Recognize Efforts, used this question to reel people in to write compliments and thank you notes to loved ones on a white board in the Integrated Wellness Complex last week.

Participants then were encouraged to take a photo with their thank you note, so they could send it to whomever they chose.

Warriors L.E.A.D. is a leadership group on campus and host of the C.A.R.E event.

Alison Chulla, a member of Warriors L.E.A.D., said, “I am so busy that it is sometimes hard for me to take time to say thanks.”

Chulla said they decided to hold this event because sometimes people forget to say thank you. Project C.A.R.E. offered a quick way for people to do that.

Chulla said she thanks her parents for always listening to her; whether it is ranting about school or asking for money, they are always there for her.

“I always say thank you and mean it, but I never have the time to say it in a special way,” Chulla said.

Hannah Nickelson, also a member of Warriors L.E.A.D., said it is difficult to choose whom to thank, but the point of the event is to quickly let multiple people know how special they are to you.

“There are probably a million different things I could say for different people,” Nickelson said.

Project C.A.R.E. was created by combining two ideas: complimenting others and thanking people.

Nick Meyer, also a member of L.E.A.D, said, “We tried to think of something that hasn’t been done before,”

Meyer explained how giving random compliments not only brightens others’ day, but it also makes us feel good.

“If you make someone else’s day, someone else will make your day,” Meyer said.

Students were receptive to the event, and several passers-by took a minute to write a thank you or compliment to people they appreciate.

Abby Evanson wrote a message to her dad for helping her with school.

Melissa Ciupik complimented her friend’s cute scarf.

Alex Hentges took a compliment card for his girlfriend that read, “Your beauty is astonishing.”

Senior Mackenzie Kerska was drawn into the event because of the outreach.

She was coming out of the gym when she was asked if she wanted to be kind today.

Kerska chose to thank her mom and dad for always being there for her.

Warriors L.E.A.D. will submit a few of the best thank-you notes to be displayed on monitors around campus.

Each semester the group holds an on-campus service project that focuses on one of the seven areas of the wellness wheel. Project C.A.R.E. focused on emotional and social wellness.

Contact Michelle at [email protected]