Volunteers to Make Cards for Veterans at White Rock Library

Community members of all ages are invited to join a come-and-go card-making session on Monday, Jan. 19, when C'YA (Champions of Youth Ambitions) will host an MLK Day service opportunity from 1 to 2 p.m. at the White Rock Branch Library. Participants can create Valentine or thank-you cards that will be distributed to local and regional veterans and active-duty service members, and completed items may be included in care packages.

Organizers will supply basic materials including paper, stickers and markers so families, students and individuals can take part without needing to bring supplies. The event is open to drop-in participation, making it accessible for people with varying schedules on the holiday. Groups and organizations that prepare large numbers of cards can request pickup for bulk donations, allowing schools, clubs and employers to contribute without logistical hurdles.

This activity is part of broader local MLK Day community-service offerings, aimed at channeling the holiday's spirit of service into tangible support for service members who live in or near Los Alamos County. Cards and care-package items can provide an important morale boost, particularly for veterans who may experience isolation or limited contact during the winter months. Some mailings connected to the effort have deadlines that require items to be collected by Feb. 2, so participants who want their contributions included in specific shipments should plan accordingly.

For Los Alamos County residents, the event offers an easy, low-barrier way to combine civic engagement with neighborhood connection, especially for multigenerational households and youth looking to fulfill community service hours. The White Rock library location keeps the project local and familiar for many on the Pajarito Plateau, while the option to support regional recipients expands the reach of small gestures.

Community-based initiatives like this complement formal veteran services by providing human connection and acknowledgment from neighbors. They also create opportunities for volunteer coordination among schools, faith groups and civic organizations that can amplify the county's overall capacity to support service members.

Whether residents stop by for five minutes or stay the full hour, the event makes it simple to translate Martin Luther King Jr.'s call to service into action. Items intended for certain mailings should be ready by Feb. 2; organizations arranging bulk donations can request pickup to streamline delivery. The card-making session offers a quick, concrete way for Los Alamos County residents to honor service and strengthen community ties.