On World Kindness Day, students from Greensboro and Summerfield Academies in Guilford County are participating in a nationwide initiative organized by the National Heritage Academies to write 50,000 thank-you notes to veterans and active service members. Nick Sheltrown, president and chief learning officer of National Heritage Academies, said, “Parents sometimes ask me, they’ll say, in the world of artificial intelligence, what’s worth learning? And that’s a big conversation. But one thing we say is certainly moral focus virtues, things like wisdom, compassion and gratitude.”

Sheltrown also said it’s a way to inspire others to pass on a good deed, no matter how small. “We’re trying to use World Kindness Day and Project Gratitude to really raise awareness nationally, that we can be kind to each other and create a more compassionate society and do that through seemingly small acts,” he said.

Students will be given time during the school day to write their thank-you cards.