Tidings Of Comfort: Holmdel 4th-Graders Write Cards To Patients

HOLMDEL, NJ — A student in a fourth-grade class in Holmdel set the example of having empathy for others, especially at this time of year.

Blake Schick, a student in Stephanie Gish's class at Indian Hill Elementary, wanted to do something to help the community during the holiday season, the district said.

So he asked his teacher if his fourth-grade class could write encouraging cards to cancer patients at Sloan Kettering Memorial Hospital in Holmdel.

He said he thought to do this particular activity because it would be so hard to be fighting cancer at this time of year.

The class couldn't wait to work on creating cards and quickly got to work, the school district said.

"We wanted to bring a smile your way and offer support and encouragement to you . . . ," the letters read in part.

And soon Blake made his delivery of cards - with their caring, encouraging messages - to the facility.