Military, emergency personnel, family members, farmers and the entire community of Chilliwack.

Those are the people one Tyson elementary class wrote personal thank-you cards to in the wake of the Fraser Valley floods.

Jennifer Sutcliffe’s Grade 4/5 class took on the heartwarming project soon after Remembrance Day. The students had been talking about veterans and how they are heroes. When the flooding hit, they realized just how many other community heroes there are in Chilliwack and beyond.

“They really looked at all the different stories that had been out there and then picked somebody to write to,” Sutcliffe said.

Her class of 23 kids penned letters to firefighters, grandparents and even members of a Sikh temple who made thousands of meals for people stranded in Hope.

“We got to write a letter to a person we thought helped a lot in the community during the floods,” said Grade 4 student Paul Natrall. “They sacrificed everything to save other people.”

Paul’s letter was written to the Canadian Armed Forces. He thanked them for flying food and water to people in need.

Paul Natrall holds his card. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

Paul Natrall’s card. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

Daisy Friesen, Grade 4, wrote to the farmers who helped fellow farmers.

“I said ‘Thank you for saving all of the cows.’ I know what it feels like to have animals go bye-bye,” she said.

Daisy Friesen holds her card. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

Daisy Friesen’s card. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

Grade 5 student Evan Gabriel wrote to his grandmother who bought milk and eggs for flood victims.

He and his class wrote the letters “to show our appreciation,” he said.

Evan Gabriel hold his card. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

Evan Gabriel’s card. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

“They helped people so they deserve to be noticed,” said Grade 4 student Isabelle Molloy, who wrote her thank-you card to Chilliwack firefighters.

“They deserve to be remembered, they deserve to be thought of, they need to be thought of,” Daisy added.

The thank-you cards with hand-written messages and colourful pictures were later delivered. When asked how they felt after writing the letters, they all said they were very pleased.

“Happy,” said Isabelle and Paul.

“Amazing,” Daisy said.

“Good in my stomach,” Evan said.

Sutcliffe said she was proud of all of her students for thinking about Chilliwack’s community heroes throughout the floods and for taking on the project.

“All the kids wrote amazing notes. They were all so good,” she said.

Isabelle Molloy holds a card from all of the students in her Tyson elementary class. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

Isabelle Molloy holds a card from all of the students in her Tyson elementary class. (Jenna Hauck/ Chilliwack Progress)

A thank-you card written by a Tyson elementary student following the Fraser Valley floods. (Submitted)

A thank-you card written by a Tyson elementary student following the Fraser Valley floods. (Submitted)

A thank-you card written by a Tyson elementary student following the Fraser Valley floods. (Submitted)

RELATED: Chilliwack woman collecting Christmas gift baskets for people impacted by flooding and landslides

RELATED: After 7 seniors’ homes in Chilliwack flooded, CAF sandbagged to prevent further damage

B.C. Floods 2021BC FloodChilliwack School District