Med Student Volunteers 1,600 Hours for Veterans

When Elle Kim knocked on veteran James's hospital room door, she had no idea she was his first visitor in months. His family had moved away a year earlier, leaving him to watch the Veterans Day Parade alone on a small TV.

Kim, a Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine student, was delivering handmade care packages to the Baltimore VA Medical Center. As she read thank-you letters aloud to James, tears welled up in his eyes.

Over the following months, Kim and James played bingo, walked in the park, and celebrated his birthday together. When COVID protocols shut down in-person visits, she refused to let isolation break their connection.

Kim launched the eCards for Heroes project to help veterans cope with pandemic loneliness. She digitized greeting cards so volunteers could send virtual messages of support, keeping thousands of veterans connected when they needed it most.

Her dedication runs deeper than most realize. Kim grew up in Daegu, South Korea, near a U.S. military base where American soldiers taught her English, shared snacks, and played Xbox with local kids.

Her grandfather, who lived through the Korean War, always told her the same thing: "If you ever meet a veteran who served in the Korean War, thank them for me." He spoke often about how American soldiers protected and rebuilt South Korea, sharing their food with civilians.

When Kim moved to Baltimore and discovered thousands of Korean War veterans live there, she felt a responsibility she couldn't ignore. "I am honoring the same generation of Americans who once stood by my family's country," she says.

Over seven years, Kim has completed 1,600 volunteer hours with the American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces. She identifies veterans' needs and organizes quarterly deliveries of hygiene kits, jackets, socks, and coffee.

The American Red Cross serves about 350,000 veterans in the mid-Atlantic region. Many face complex medical, emotional, and socioeconomic challenges that require ongoing support beyond emergency services.

The Ripple Effect

Kim's innovation extended far beyond individual visits. She trained other volunteers on digital card distribution, created standard operating procedures, and organized wellness workshops and morale-boosting events.

Chris Duffley, director of Service to Armed Forces and International Services, has worked with Kim for five years. "Her willingness to continue volunteering through this new chapter in her life is greatly appreciated," he says.

Senior program specialist Christiana Ilufoye says Kim won Volunteer of the Year because she sees challenges as stepping stones. "She doesn't really see hurdles," Ilufoye notes.

Kim calls this experience her "sohwakhang," a Korean phrase meaning "small but certain moments of happiness" found in connection and service. She's currently organizing a winter outreach initiative to continue supporting veterans through the cold months ahead.

One knock on a lonely veteran's door sparked a movement that kept thousands connected through isolation.