Paper Bridges is an outstanding non-profit club at Aliso Niguel that helps provide emotional support to orphans and other children in vulnerable positions. Members in the club write letters to children in need all around the world, which get sent internationally, in order to spread love and encouragement around the world.
The official Paper Bridges non-profit organization was founded in 2017, dedicated to elevate foster youth and orphans through care packages and letters. On the Instagram page @paper.bridges, the organization not only shares the work of the Paper Bridges team, but also educates other people on foster care, orphanages and adoption.
Paper Bridges at ANHS was created in the year 2022 by Jessie Blattner, an Aliso Niguel High School alumni, whose goal was to inspire the community in supporting children in need. She hopes that by writing heartwarming letters, it is a simple way to bring smiles to children’s faces around the world.
Current President of Paper Bridges, Mae Villamil (11), says “I am proud to be the president of a club that not only helps our community, but brings light to those who need it, world-wide. Paper Bridges is also a safe space for ANHS students to spend time with their friends in a fun, lighthearted atmosphere with the intention of making children’s days special.”
The members of Paper Bridges gather in Room 302, Ms. Torres’s classroom, during lunch on the last Tuesday of every month, with the next meeting coming up on Nov. 28. At the meetings, members will decorate cards for the children with inspirational messages inside of them and are then given snacks for their participation. The vice president of the club, Nicole Aguirre (10), then mails the letters out to the kids.
At the most recent meeting, on Oct. 31, club members designed creative covers and wrote heartfelt letters to children in St. Jude’s Hospital. There were fall cookies and cupcakes, in honor of Halloween, music and crafts at the meeting which brought together the positive environment of the club meeting.
Natalie Tiegiser (11), who attended the meeting on Oct. 31, says “It was a lovely way to spend my lunch, and I can not wait for more meetings in the future. My friends and I all had a great time.
It is never too late for fellow Wolverines to get involved with this amazing club at Aliso, and every student is welcomed to join the club any time. In order to become part of Paper Bridges, all students need to do is text @anhspb to 81010 in order to join the club’s Remind. By doing this, students will receive updates for upcoming meetings and are able to communicate with the club president about any further questions.
Along with joining the Remind, students can follow the club’s journey this year by following the Paper Bridges Instagram, @paperbridges.anhs.
Aliso Niguel is happy to host student run clubs that do incredible things for our community and the world. Paper Bridges is one of those excellent clubs that helps students spread positivity throughout the world.
