How has the pandemic affected you? Grapevine middle school student, 11, wants to know.

The coronavirus pandemic has affected folks in a variety of ways as many shelter in place to remain safe and healthy.

Caroline Gonzalez, 11, wants to know how it has affected others. The incoming sixth-grader at Grapevine Middle School — who is in the STEM and Gifted and Talented programs — is gathering letters from people describing how they’re spending their lockdown.

She said she thought of the letters after the group SAGE (Supporting and Advocating for Gifted Education), along with the GT program at her school, asked students to come up with ideas on how to improve the lives of Grapevine citizens.

“Some of the students collected food and made masks, but my idea was a little different. I chose to find out about the emotions our town is feeling through letters,” she said.

“People have been excited for the opportunity to express their feelings and opinions.”

So far the response has been positive, she said. The guide for letters include how people are feeling in general, along with their personal outlook, family and job situations.

“It’s really been wonderful to watch her develop this idea, partly because it is so different from the ordinary ways we help,” said her mother, Cori Kelly. “We usually think of helping as providing something, but this is an opportunity to talk about the way we are feeling and that is therapeutic in its own way.

“Not to mention, we will have a historic record for years to come of what daily life is like during such an unprecedented time.”

Cori said neighbors are joining in the effort.

“It’s taken a village, already. Family and friends have been supporting this idea,” she said, adding that SAGE gave her daughter a $50 gift card to help buy supplies, like the binders and other items she needs to compile the letters.

Caroline said her plan is to compile the letters in a binder and present to the city to keep in City Hall to preserve history.

“Its a good thing because people can express how they feel when they write it,” she said. “I am hoping that people will read these letters a long time from now and see what other people cared about and did during such a difficult time.”

Caroline said she believes that while COVID-19 has created great challenges for society, projects such as hers can bring people closer together.

As for herself, she has spent her much of her time during the pandemic riding her bicycle and reading a lot — along with compiling letters, of course.

Anyone wishing to send a letter can do so through the SAGE program. Letters should be handwritten, fit on one page of paper, be legible and appropriate with no bad language. Send to:

The Letter Book

c/o GC-SAGE

P.O. Box 1241

Colleyville, TX 76034

This story was originally published August 27, 2020 at 6:00 AM.