During the chilly winter months, children living in orphanages may not get any holiday gifts. WJ’s Paper Bridges club is setting out to change this.

Paper Bridges is a student-run nonprofit organization with chapters across America that aims to provide mental health support and supplies to orphans around the world.

The organization mainly sends money or letters online or physically. WJ’s chapter meets every two weeks on Thursdays in room 110 to write letters and plan for big events.

Members of the club will write and decorate kind letters to be donated. Orphanages around the DMV will be receiving boxes of these letters to warm the hearts of children with no families.

“You can show your artistic side and enjoy yourself when making and decorating the cards,” co-president, sophomore Maya Giambone said. “It’s going to be super fun.”

Paper Bridges serves the WJ community by connecting students with less fortunate children from around the world. Participating can make students feel grateful for what they have and want to help others.

“We want everyone to gain awareness of what other parts of the world look like and what other kids go through,” co-president, sophomore Meena Giambone said.

The officers also plan to implement a soccer game. Last spring, they had a soccer game at the school that raised $200 for the Oasis Orphanage in southwest Kenya. The money raised went toward things like clothing and school supplies.

“We will be having the soccer tournament again this year,” treasurer, sophomore Ronald Magino said. “Last year, people really enjoyed it.”

Paper Bridges is also planning on hosting a bake sale to raise money to donate to Oasis, an orphanage in Africa. Although the date is not yet set, the event will be announced on the Paper Bridges Instagram when it is decided.

“There are a bunch of other events that we will plan, but we aren’t exactly sure when they will be,” Maya Giambone said. “We would love to have a bake sale sometime this year.”