Haley Gustafson | Daily Press Students involved in the Escanaba High School community service club, Silver Linings, are pictured. Shown in the front row, from left, are English teacher Lauren Bishop, Kaitlyn DeGrand, Cassidy Magnuson, Karly VanDrese, Emma Zuidema, Kassidy Wigand. In back row, from left, are Austin Dubord, Rylie Francis, Kyra Beck, Danika Mackie, Morgan Boosamra, Jesse Schafer, and Sophie Wessel.

ESCANABA — Community service group, “Silver Linings,” started by High School English teacher Lauren Bishop, encourages students to perform random acts of kindness and to give back to the community and their school. The overall message of the group is “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”

Bishop explained she started the club three years ago after starting her job at Escanaba. The club was inspired by “To Write Love on Her Arms,” an American non-profit organization which aims to present hope to those struggling with addictions, depression, self-injury and thoughts of suicide.

Bishop noted she wanted students at Escanaba and beyond to see and be the “silver lining” in the community.

“We want to find the good in any situation,” said Bishop.

Currently, the club has 20 to 30 members spanning across the sophomore, junior and senior classes at the high school.

Sophie Wessel, a senior at Escanaba High School, is a part of the group. She said she truly enjoys giving back. Wessel also manages the group’s Twitter page.

“I really like Silver Linings,” said Wessel. “And I really like Mrs. Bishop. She’s really fun.”

Wessel noted the club has done various projects including creating baskets for residents at Hope at The Inn homeless shelter, making pet beds for animals housed at the Delta Animal Shelter, collecting donated clothes that were given to the Delta County Foster Closet, taking donations of books for the local women’s shelter and leaving notes of encouragement on the lockers throughout the high school.

Before Thanksgiving break, Wessel said each member of the club created close to 30 handwritten happy messaged notes, adding it was a way for students to leave the school on a positive note.

“It looked really nice,” said Wessel.

Other members, Kassidy Wigand and Danika Mackie, said it feels wonderful to be able to give back to their local community and not only make others feel good, but also themselves. Members meet every Thursday during lunch to discuss upcoming and projects.

To help raise funds for the club, Bishop explained the group sells candy bars, holds bake sales, and accepts donations. The next effort they hope to raise money for is the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Michigan.

Students will be hosting a bake sale, and selling strips of duct tape. The duct tape will be used to tape a teacher to the wall, noted Bishop, describing the fundraiser. Money raised will go to the cancer research group.

Creating the club and seeing it grow has been a joy, noted Bishop, adding watching the kids “grow more community minded” and empathetic towards others is rewarding.

“I absolutely love it,” said Bishop. “The saying on our t-shirts is ‘In a world where you can be anything, be kind.'”

For more information and updates about the club, visit its Facebook page at EHS Silver Linings.