ETSU students send ‘Letters of Love’ to first responders, hurricane survivors
Sometimes, a little love can go a long way toward healing, something that social work major Shaina Thompson knows very well.
President of the Letters of Love initiative at East Tennessee State University, Thompson and her team of six officers set up outside of the D.P. Culp Student Center dining hall on Sept. 30 and Oct. 1. The organization welcomed students, faculty, staff and community members to write letters to first responders and anyone affected by Hurricane Helene in the region. The ETSU family did not hold back: In those two days, Letters of Love gathered more than 1,100 notes to deliver.
“This organization is love in action,” said Thompson. “The idea was birthed out of my love for the campus and the people who are a part of it . . . People coming together and turning their love for their community into an action is an incredibly beautiful thing.”
Letters of Love members are actively delivering bundles of letters to shelters and command stations in Carter, Johnson, Washington, Unicoi, Yancey, Greene and Cocke counties. So far, 1,040 letters have been delivered to five counties. The community is already feeling a powerful impact.
"[First responders were] overcome with emotion . . . The support gave them a renewed sense of purpose and faith in their community . . . The letters were a perfect way to show support and help our emergency workers keep their heads up,” said Peyton Gentry, vice president of Letters of Love.
In the past, the organization has hosted events where they handed out encouraging notes during finals week and partnered with ETSU’s Preview and Orientation Leader Organization to write letters for first-year students.
Letters of Love will continue distributing notes to those impacted by the flooding. The organization has an open nomination form where anyone in the ETSU community and beyond can nominate someone they believe needs a little extra love. Thompson’s team will write a bundle of letters for those nominated, and Letters of Love outreach coordinator Abby Simpson will ensure the letters are delivered.
The organization also plans to partner with Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity in the last week of October to donate letters of love to veterans. Students and the community can fill out collection forms, nominate someone who needs some extra kindness and stay up to date on the organization’s upcoming activities by following them on Instagram @lettersofloveetsu.
“My challenge to the community is to find a way to put your love into action and remember that a few kind words go a long way,” said Thompson.
Since its inception in 1911, East Tennessee State University has been committed to improving the quality of life for the people of the region and beyond. Central to this mission is the belief that people come first. Bucs Rebuild Together, the university’s response to the devastation from Hurricane Helene in the region, reflects ETSU’s continuing commitment to supporting our communities in times of need. Through collaborative efforts, we are dedicated to helping rebuild, embodying our core values of service, excellence and compassion. Learn more at etsu.edu/response.
East Tennessee State University was founded in 1911 with a singular mission: to improve the quality of life for people in the region and beyond. Through its world-class health sciences programs and interprofessional approach to health care education, ETSU is a highly respected leader in rural health research and practices. The university also boasts nationally ranked programs in the arts, technology, computing, and media studies. ETSU serves approximately 14,000 students each year and is ranked among the top 10 percent of colleges in the nation for students graduating with the least amount of debt.
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