Can you suggest a worthy cause to send cards to?

[darkahry]

I offered to make cards with my third grader's class and am looking for causes that might accept hand made cards. I was thinking active military or veterans, but also thought maybe kids with terminal illnesses/cancer (like St. Jude's) might be good since these are kids...... Can anyone suggest a cause or forward information that might be useful? I'd appreciate it!
Thanks!!
Daria

There are a few people with sites in their signatures. One is keikicards.org (I think that's the site address) and they request cards for terminally ill children. They are in Hawaii. You can read all about them on the site and they request different cards based on seasons.

[Rox71]

Keiki is in my siganture if you want a fast link to the site. They can always use them.

[robbrd]

I'd pick Keiki too. I've been sending them cards for quite a few years now and for as much as they have grown they are still very personable. I do the Cards of Aloha through them too.

[darkahry]

This is a terrific suggestion. Can anyone else offer ideas??
Daria

[mytime]

How about ChemoAngels?

My daughter isn't enrolled, but enjoys cards. I know many SCS'ers are involved as I have donated cards to them in the past. They send a card to someone with Cancer every week!

[Rox71]

If you’re trying to avoid postage cost you could check with some of the senior homes in your area. They often use them for the residents that get little to no mail or let them use the cards to send to family and friends.

I've also sent to soldiers in Iraq so they can send them home. There are plenty of SCS members with family deployed that would share an address with you.

Check with some of the local hospitals to see if they have a program that could benefit from them.

[GWTW Junkie]

I like the old folk's home idea. I'd also suggest Ronald McDonald House. There's one in pretty much every decent sized city, so you could drop them off and save a ton of postage. Or SU has big drop-off barrels for RMDH at their events--you could give a box of them to your demo to drop off for you.

[susane4]

Someone on this site (I think) posted a while back (2 years ago?) about sending cards to active duty military for them to use and send to their loved ones back home. They don't have a lot of access to greeting cards in the Middle East. She was collecting hand-made creations as well as those cards we all get in the mail with the fund raisers. I had every intention of sending her a whole lot of them but never got around to it when life got very complicated for a while. The only thing to consider is that it is costly to send bulk mailings overseas. The soldiers can mail their stuff APO so there is no cost to them. Perhaps anyone contributing could also include a small monetary donation to help defray the shipping costs. It's also important to remember to send envelopes.

[Rox71]

I send my boxes by flat rate for $8.10 and the box will hold around 180 to 200
cards and envelopes. Anyone can pick them up and the post office at no charge until you're ready to post it.

They also have a large envelope that will post for $4.05 and it will hold about the size of the largest SU stamp case. You have to be a little careful with this one because some post offices will charge extra if you tape other than the adhesive on it and most will need tape when you bulk the envelope. One post office near me charges extra and the other doesn't.

Even though the packages are going to another country the military address will be US so the flat rate is good for the deployed soldiers.

[wizardmom3]

Active military is a good idea..My husband is currently in Iraq and I am making cards and getting donations from others for his unit. He thought is was a great idea because they are busy. They all appreciate what is donated to them.

[darkahry]

Thanks for all of the terrific suggestions! Since these are children working on the cards I really like the idea of active military or ill children. I will talk to my son's teacher about which these suggestions she prefers. If anyone else has an idea I'd love to hear about it. Otherwise, I may be asking some of you for contact information of your family members. I think there are restrictions about sending that kind of info on-line but I'm more than willing to do whatever needed to get the cards to them. Thanks!
Daria

[LovinTX]

here is another thread for someone requesting cards

Forums at Splitcoaststampers

[mackbrad]

I have sent them directly to active military serving in Iraq and Afganistan at www.anysoldier.com - but I kind of weeded through the soldiers looking for those who specifically wanted paper or stationary to write on - the cards I have sent have been received with enthusiasm and seem to be appreciated.

[Stampingrma]

Here is another option for cards for our men and women in the military. We are accepting both hand stamped and commercial cards. The current shipment is being packed this weekend, and the Christmas shipment will be packed on November 14th. The organization is a 501c3 charitible organization and so we can give tax deduction receipts if requested. Everyone involved is volunteering their time and talents. The founder and manager is a mother whose son was in Iraq and she just started collecting things to send to him and his buddies and it grew and grew.
I'm in charge of the collection of cards, so if you are interested, I will be happy to give you the address to send them to.
Here is the website for the organization:

www.supportamericasarmedforces.com

Betty

[Toy]

Great suggestions... I'm always looking for something new. I once did a card blitz to a women's prison. It was well received. I may do that again.

Also.. I get a list from local churches of "shut ins" (elderly that are being cared for in their homes)... I like to send to them, too.

[allamericanstampers]

Operation Quiet Comfort always needs cards! They give wounded soldiers a "comfort" bag as they come off the battlefield and include cards...

I copied and pasted DLS881's last post:

Hi, I'm back asking for some get well or thinking of you type cards for our wounded troops. Please send your signed cards to Operation:Quiet Comfort, PO Box 263, LaSalle MI 48145. Envelopes would be helpful, but are not necessary.

Operation:QuietComfort.com supports the medical staff and wounded troops at hospitals in Iraq, Kosovo and Afghanistan by sending transition bags and staff gifts.

Splitcoaststampers has come through in the past!

Diane

[Motherof6]

I just donated a bunch to our church's missionary closet. I was told the missionaries are always in need of cards, especially thank you cards. Just another idea...;)