Three high school students from Pensacola and Gulf Breeze are launching a campaign to write 1,000 letters this summer and for the school year 2025-2026 expressing gratitude and appreciation.
Arden Hof, a rising senior at Gulf Breeze High School, together with Katie Overholtz and Louisa Coleman, both rising seniors at Catholic High School are launching The Kindness Collective.
“There are so many people in our community that give tirelessly, not for accolades or recognition, but just because they are motivated to do the right thing or serve others,” Arden shares, “We want to express gratitude for their acts of kindness, heroism, and service; and by doing so, know that it will lift us as well. Gratitude lifts both the giver and receiver. We can’t change the world, but we can try to make it better than we found it.”
The hope is that The Kindness Collective becomes a community of high school students at multiple schools across the local area, dedicated to spreading kindness, gratitude, and encouragement in their schools and community.
The goal is for students in the collective to stand together to uplift one another, promote a culture of inclusion, and stand firmly against bullying.
Through the power of words, participating students will write letters of appreciation and encouragement to students, teachers, local leaders, and community members, reminding them they are seen, valued, and supported. The mission is to create ripples of positive change, one act of kindness, and one heartfelt letter at a time through a Letters that Lift campaign each month.
All three young women were motivated by their own life experiences navigating loss, grief, change, and bullying.
“I am grateful every day for my health and my family and want to honor them by encouraging others,” Katie Overholtz said.
The honors students are no strangers to service, having already volunteered over 300 hours in the local area. All three girls will serve as counselors at various camps this summer.
If you are interested in receiving letters or have a high schooler interested in joining the effort, e-mail pensacolakindnesscollective@gmail.com and look for them on Instagram at kindness_collective_pcola.
