PALM HARBOR, Fla. — A group of Bay area high schoolers are sending “Thank You's” to nurses and doctors in New York City. 

• Bay area students send "thank you" cards to NY health care workers
• PHU High students Camily Widger, Lena Deque and Rebecca Jenkins led effort
• CORONAVIRUS LIVE UPDATES: In the Tampa Bay area

The effort is called COVID Cards for Heroes.

Palm Harbor University High School students are spearheading this effort to salute health care professionals. The move also is a way for students to earn volunteer hours in the school's International Baccalaureate program.

PHU High’s Camily Widger thought of making cards after hearing stories from her cousin, who is a health care worker in New York. 

“She was telling us about all the chaos and everything that was going on at the hospital and I wanted to show her some love and show her some support and I wanted to send her cards,” said Widger.

The original goal was 500 cards, but so many people reached out to help that the teens were able to mail 900 cards to health care workers in New York.

“It’s so exciting to see they’re going to get this and they’re going to smile and they’re going to have fun because I’m sure there’s not a lot of that going on, fun stuff like that,” said Palm Harbor University High student Rebecca Jenkins. 

The effort was such a success, the high school students have decided to continue making cards for front line workers. 

For those interested in helping, email covidcardsforheros@gmail.com.