The Woodlands Cares initiative provides double-sided yard signs reading "Thank You Healthcare Workers!" printed by Signsational Signs in Spring. The signs are available for $20 by pickup or $30 by delivery, with all profits benefiting the Interfaith of The Woodlands food pantry.
The Woodlands Cares was started in early April by Cooper sophomore Gamble Reed. He said he and his mother, Nancy Reed, first came up with the project concept this spring after seeing a similar sign posted at Interfaith’s facility and finding there was no option to buy their own merchandise.
“My mom wanted to purchase one, and there wasn’t an actual [process] for that. So we ended up creating one, and wanted to sell it and give [proceeds] to Interfaith while also supporting our health care workers,” Gamble said.
Gamble previously worked with a local community service organization and said one of his favorite volunteer opportunities had been serving at the Interfaith pantry. After Cooper closed its campus in mid-March due to coronavirus concerns, Gamble said he began working on The Woodlands Cares as a way to stay active at home while continuing to assist the pantry and spreading encouragement for local medical staff.
“I found myself not really doing much around the house,” he said. “This whole initiative kind of jump-started that, for me to get out and do some stuff and help support our community.”
He also said he wanted to focus on a project benefiting the food pantry after Interfaith suspended volunteer work there in March, including one of his scheduled service opportunities.
“I had a shift coming up there, but that obviously got cancelled," Gamble said. "There’s not really volunteers anymore there because of the virus, and I’m sure they’re struggling because of this, because it’s harder to get out to the people in need. So we’re trying to support them through this.”
Gamble and his mother said they did not have any direct connections to workers in the health care field when they started The Woodlands Cares. Since the project kicked off, the Reeds said dozens of signs have been sold, and they have received positive responses from the community, including Cooper staff members and local health care workers.
“I have two daughters who are young doctors, and they have many friends who have been feeling so discouraged,” Cooper English teacher Michele Amini said in a statement from the school. “Your signs have helped them know that they are loved and people are recognizing their work on the front lines.”
Gamble said his work with establishing The Woodlands Cares has been one of the top service activities he has participated in. He said he hopes the project will grow in the community this spring, and the Reeds plan to continue selling signs this year as long as demand persists.
“It’s pretty new for me; I’ve never really done anything like this for the community,” Gamble said. “I’ve had a great time doing this and giving back and meeting new people that are also supportive of this idea. And [I] definitely would want to try something like this in the future and try and give back to our community.”
For more information or to purchase a sign, visit The Woodlands Cares’ Facebook page or email [email protected].
