ELKHART — Central High Schools students are taking time this week to write letters and cards to members of the military as a part of Central and Memorial’s endeavor to give 30,000 total hours of community service.

“They sacrifice a lot for us, so the least we can do is sacrifice a little time to show that we appreciate them,” said Jose Salvazar, a Central senior who wrote one card Monday morning, but planned to make more during the week.

Central students who are a part of the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council provided supplies to teachers for students to make the cards during students’ advisory periods.

Becca Hasler, a member of the council, said that they hoped that every student would make at least one card during the week. They’ll be sent to troops through the organization A Million Thanks.

Marbella Chavez and Lauryn Campagnoli, seniors at Central, both said they were impressed by how many students had gotten involved in Service Project X.

At first, Marbella said that she thought the school’s larger, more publicized, service events would be where most of the students’ volunteer hours came from, but said that since students started turning in their volunteer forms, many have been babysitting and doing “smaller” activities.

Lauryn added that not just the top students are volunteering, but others too.

“It’s reaching far and wide,” she said.

Thus far, students at Central and Memorial have volunteered altogether a total of more than 17,800 hours, according to numbers provided by the two Elkhart high schools’ assistant principals.

That means the schools are past the halfway mark on their way to volunteering a total of 30,000.

The high schools launched the initiative, called Service Project X, in mid-November.

If the students complete the 30,000 hours by May 24, the two schools will celebrate by attempting to set a world record for the largest game of Red Rover.

Committees at both schools are helping students find ways to serve the community, though students can also volunteer independently in their neighborhoods or at community organizations.

Organizations or others with volunteer opportunities can contact the high schools and ask to speak with a member of each school’s Service Project X communications committee.