Turpin Key Club Brings Joy Through Valentine’s Day Outreach

Turpin High School’s Key Club put its focus on Anderson Township seniors, some of whom have spent a lonely year without loved ones, in a recent service project. 

With the help of Anderson Township and the Anderson Township Senior Center, the Key Club sent over 900 Valentines to more than 300 members of the Anderson Senior Center, and residents of seven senior care facilities in the community. 

Beautiful original artwork was crafted by several artists at the senior center; a regular watercolor painting group contributed their own creations. One hundred Turpin students each wrote a note and mailed the cards to residents. 

Ken Schroeder, Mt. Washington Care Center admissions and marketing director, noted, “The Covid-19 pandemic has left many of our elderly long term care residents without access to their loved ones.” 

“We are always looking to provide positive, uplifting, words of encouragement to this population,” he said. “It is so easy to brighten up their day with some words as they are currently isolated from the outside world. This was one of those ways.” 

Artist Pam Zeller contributed watercolor paintings of birds to the project. “I’m thrilled to help the school and kids get community service opportunities,” she said.  

Sophia Nichols is a Turpin Key Club special events coordinator. She explained that service and volunteering is the focus of the club all throughout the year. “This was a great way to support seniors in our community, who have been through so much this year.”