Welcome to our National Service Projects page! As we prepare for the 73rd Biennial National Leadership Conference in Houston, TX, the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc. is proud to highlight two impactful initiatives that embody our “Stronger Together” theme. Join us in demonstrating the power of the Divine Nine by participating in our Operation Gratitude service project, where we aim to break records by writing countless letters of thanks to our dedicated service men and women. Additionally, we invite you to contribute to our local Houston service project by creating positive affirmation cards to brighten the lunch bags provided by Kids’ Meals, helping to combat food insecurity in the community. Please read the information below to learn more about how your chapter can be of service and contribute to these vital causes!
We are particularly excited to announce that with your help, we are aiming to break a Guinness World Record for the most letters written for Operation Gratitude! Our ambitious goal is to collect an incredible 110,000 letters to express our profound thanks to service men and women.
Operation Gratitude – Letter Writing: Your Step-by-Step Guide
Project Goal: To unite our NPHC chapters / Divine Nine community in writing heartfelt letters of appreciation to our deployed troops, recruit graduates, veterans, caregivers, and first responders, aiming to set a new record for letters collected in one day during the NLC! (Our goal is 110,000 letters.)
Step 1: Understand the Impact of Your Letters
- Purpose: Your handwritten letters are a simple yet incredibly powerful way to convey gratitude and bring joy to the recipients of Operation Gratitude Care Packages. In these challenging times, your kind words can provide immense motivation and support to those who serve our nation.
- Recipients: Letters will be included in Care Packages for Deployed Troops, Recruit Graduates, Veterans, Caregivers, and First Responders.
Step 2: Access the Letter Writing Template
- To ensure consistency and maximum impact, we’ve prepared a specific template for NPHC, Inc. – NLC attendees and organizations.
- Action: Please click here to view and utilize the Letter Writing Template.
- Do NOT include: Your name or personal contact information.
Step 3: Participate in the Letter Writing Challenge
- Main Goal for NLC Attendance: We kindly ask all attendees to bring 10-20 handwritten letters with them when they attend the conference. Every letter truly makes a difference!
- Summer Letter Writing Challenge (Optional, but Encouraged!): Let’s make this initiative even bigger! We invite your chapter to organize a letter-writing challenge for the remainder of the summer. This is a wonderful opportunity for your members to gather and contribute collectively.
- NLC Contest: We will host a friendly contest during the NLC Service Day to see which chapter has the most letters! This is a fantastic way to encourage participation and highlight your chapter’s dedication.
Step 4: Promote the Initiative to Your Members
- Spread the Word: We encourage you to share a graphic and this webpage with all your chapter members and collegiate contacts. Encourage them to start writing early!
Step 5: Prepare for Record-Breaking Success!
- Our Ambitious Goal: NPHC, Inc. President Donna Jones has a wonderful vision for us to attempt to break the record for the most letters written to military personnel collected in a single day. The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) currently holds the record for letters collected in a month, so we are narrowing our scope to achieve a phenomenal result in one concentrated effort.
Step 6: Letter Collection at the Conference
- Bring Your Letters: Remember to bring all your collected letters to the conference. Specific instructions on where and when to drop off letters will be provided in the NLC agenda.
- Or Mail Your Letters ahead of time. The shipping information is here:
- Operation Gratitude
- 19748 Dearborn Street
- Chatsworth, CA 91311
Step 7: Post-Conference Actions (Managed by NLC Planning Committee)
- Shipping: Once all letters are collected at the conference, the NLC Planning Committee will be responsible for contacting Operation Gratitude and arranging the shipment of all letters to their mailing address:
- Operation Gratitude
- 19748 Dearborn Street
- Chatsworth, CA 91311
Thank you for your chapter’s dedication to service and for helping us make this NLC service project an unprecedented success! Let’s write history together, one heartfelt letter at a time.
Instructions: NPHC Conference Community Service – Positive Affirmation Cards for Kids’ Meals
We are excited to invite all NLC attendees and our great NPHC community members to participate in a heartwarming local community service initiative that will bring smiles and encouragement to children in the Greater Houston Area who are experiencing food insecurity. Your participation will make a significant difference!
The Initiative: Spreading Positivity to Houston’s Littlest Learners
Lambda Omega Sigma Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. regularly packs snack bags for Kids’ Meals, an incredible organization that delivers free, healthy meals to food-insecure children. To add a special touch of encouragement, Lambda Omega Sigma’s Basileus, Dr. Chanae Jones suggested that we write kind, inspiring, and encouraging positive affirmation cards in each bag. We are inviting all NPHC members nationwide to join us in this meaningful effort.
Why this matters: Kids’ Meals delivers over 9,000 free, healthy meals each weekday to Houston’s hungriest preschool-aged children. When school is out, this expands to over 16,000 meals daily for every child up to age 18 in these homes. Preschool-aged children are at a critical developmental stage and often miss out on school-based free meal programs, making Kids’ Meals’ work absolutely vital. Your affirmations will directly uplift these young Houstonians.
For more statistics on the problem of food insecurity in the Greater Houston Area, please refer to https://kidsmealsinc.org/
Step-by-Step Instructions for Participation:
Step 1: Access the Positive Affirmation Cards Document
Please click here to access the Positive Affirmation Cards document: This document provides examples and guidelines for writing your affirmations.
Step 2: Gather Your Supplies
You will need:
Small notecards or sturdy paper that can be cut into card-sized pieces (approximately 3×5 inches or smaller to fit comfortably in lunch bags).
Pens, markers, or colored pencils.
Step 3: Write Your Positive Affirmations
Focus on uplifting messages: Write short, encouraging, and positive messages.
Keep it simple: Messages should be easy for young children (preschool to elementary age) to understand or for parents/guardians to read to them.
Examples:
“You are amazing!”
“Believe in yourself!”
“You are loved!”
“Shine bright today!”
“You are strong!”
“Keep smiling!”
“You are capable of great things!”
Be creative (optional): You can draw a small, simple, positive image (like a star, heart, or smiley face) if you wish, but text is most important.
Do NOT include: Your name, personal contact information, or any messages that are not universally positive and encouraging for children.
Step 4: Prepare Your Cards
Ensure your notecards are neatly written and fit within the suggested size.
Step 5: Drop Off Your Completed Cards
During the NLC Conference: Look for the designated “Positive Affirmation Card Drop-Off” station. This will be clearly marked.
Or you can mail your affirmation cards to the following address:
Kids’ MealsLetters of Affirmations for Lunch Bags
Thank You for Your Compassion!
Your contribution of positive affirmation cards will bring immense joy and a sense of care to the children and families served by Kids’ Meals. Thank you for embodying the spirit of service and uplifting our community!
