MARYSVILLE — A trio of juniors at Marysville’s Grace Academy have decided that that the only way for them to do community service is to go big.

Tim O’Kelly, Dakota Schoolcraft and Enrique Kramer are the “co-planners” behind “Floating Hearts,” a student-led group that’s chosen to respond to the needs of flood victims by drumming up financial donations to go to the Snohomish County Chapter of the American Red Cross in Everett. The three teens will also be collecting non-perishable food items for the Marysville Community Food Bank, as well as lightly used clothing for Seeds of Grace, a ministry group of the Allen Creek Community Church in Marysville.

Both O’Kelly and Kramer are interested in enrolling in either the Naval or Air Force academies after graduation, and all three young men plan to pursue college educations, so they’re not ashamed to admit that “Floating Hearts” began as a means for them to fulfill their community service requirements. However, as the project has progressed, it’s become more than that, as they’ve seen the scope of how many people are in need.

“Floating Hearts” has already contacted several local businesses and is on track to print and distribute thousands of informational fliers about their group. They’ve posted a community signup sheet for their efforts at the Starbucks in the Marysville Haggen Food and Pharmacy, located on 3711 88th St. NE, and they’re taking part in that Starbucks location’s donation drive between Jan 24-31.

In turn, Starbucks employees have signed on as volunteers for the “Floating Hearts” collection drive, when volunteers will drop collection bags off on neighborhood doorsteps throughout Marysville, which local residents can then fill up and leave out on their doorsteps, for volunteers to collect Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. Voiss Wood Products has already donated a large truck for “Floating Hearts” to load its collection bags onto during those days, but the group still needs volunteers to drop off and pick up collection bags.

Those who receive collection bags from “Floating Hearts” can also turn them in Jan. 31 at the Haggen Starbucks, or at the Albertsons at 301 Marysville Mall. For more information, call 425-367-2522.