Operation Write Home

The group I'm profiling today is one of the largest and most widely known charitable organizations among card makers. Perhaps you've heard of it. Operation Write Home supports U.S. armed forces by sending blank, homemade greeting cards to write home on, as well as sending them cards of gratitude.

About Operation Write Home 

Cardmakers from the United States– and citizens of other nations too – who care about our military, and want to support them through creativity and encouragement participate in Operation Write Home since 2007. 

Care packages filled with hundreds of handmade cards are sent to our contacts, restocking every 6-8 weeks, and are sent in time for the long journey back home to loved ones. Each box is packed with great care, alternating styles, colors, and cardmakers from all over the United States creating “eye candy” for heroes who see only khaki around them. In addition to blank cards for soldiers, a plastic bag filled with 20-30 letters from adults and children across the country, are handed out especially to those in need of a positive word from the homefront.

Boxes are shipped every week of the year. Operation Write Home recently sent out its 2.5 millionth card! There is the solder with the 2.5 millionth card in the photo below!

Recipients
U.S. soldiers from every branch of service - deployed all over the world - receive cards from Operation Write Home. Cards are distributed through chapels, MWRs, USOs, battlefields and living quarters at deployed duty station around the globe.

Want to see some of those recipients? Click here to see a slide show of soldiers with their cards. Grab a tissue. You may choke up a little.

 How to Get Involved
Operation Write Home has some unique guidelines, which you can find here. One of the most important rules is absolutely NO GLITTER.  What? No glitter? That's right. Glitter makes soldiers visible to someone with night vision goggles and puts them at risk as an easy target.

Another guideline to note is that they accept A2 cards (4.25x5.5") only. Because Operation Write Home processes thousands and thousands of cards a year, they need to be as efficient as possible. The more cards they can process, the more opportunities for soldiers to send something special to their families. 

You can get all the guidelines from their web site, which is chock full of really good information.

It's also important to note their deadlines. While you and I are thinking about Valentine's Day cards, Operation Write Home is already working on Easter and Mother's Day themes. Many of their cards go to remote locations, so they need to work 6-8 weeks ahead of time. Click here for a calendar.

Now, what soldier wouldn't love to give this silly card to his or her child! It's an A2 card with no glitter. If you lift the flaps, you can read some of the silly sounds in the song. My daughter loves that song. Apparently, her kindergarten class dances to it sometimes during brain breaks!

The card uses the new set Foxy, which is sold out, but will be back in the store this coming week. Trust me, it's an awesome set. Why do you think it sold out so fast!

Have a great weekend and please consider sharing your talent by donating a card (or two, or three or four) to Operation Write Home or any of the organizations I've profiled.

Annette Pin It

Send Love Today

I have loved every organization I've profiled so far. Every cause is important, but the cause I'm profiling today is probably the most personal for me. Today's post features Send Love Today, a volunteer-based program meant to bring some amount of joy to brain tumor patients in the form of homemade cards and small gifts.

Two years ago, a dear friend of mine was diagnosed with brain cancer after having a seizure at the local swimming pool. Marilyn (I changed her name to protect her privacy) is a mother of three young boys who range in age from 3rd grade to a high school freshman. I met her at church several years ago. We were in a mom's group together when our kids were really young. Marilyn has had her ups and downs throughout this journey. She recently experienced some paralysis and was admitted to a short-term care facility. While she's home now, she struggles every day to do small tasks that we take for granted like taking a shower or even making dinner. Fortunately, Marylin has a huge support group, but there are many who do not. A simple gesture like sending a card can make a big difference.

About Send Love Today
Linda Thomas and Sandi Mueller formed the idea for Send Love Today (SLT) after the tragic death of Linda’s husband, Stacy L. Thomas (SLT). Stacy fought brain cancer for two and a half years before it took his life in January 2004. Throughout his illness, Sandi and other family members sent cards to Stacy as a form of love and encouragement. Stacy began to look forward to receiving these cards, and they became the bright spots in his otherwise pain-filled life. When Stacy passed away, it became extremely important to Linda to make something positive come out of this tragedy. Thus, Linda and Sandi developed the idea for Send Love Today.

Recipients
Send Love Today provides emotional support and encouragement to brain tumor patients and their families throughout their difficult journey.

How to Get Involved
The first step toward getting involved is filling out the online volunteer form. Know that the cards you send are helping someone through a difficult time and bringing a smile to their life. If you are unable to volunteer in the capacities listed on the online form, but know of someone who is in need of cards, or know of a person or company willing to donate money to our cause, we would appreciate you forwarding us that information. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please email us at sandi@sendlovetoday.org

Helpful Hint: Do not put “Get Well Soon” on your card. Some options are: keeping you in my prayers; sending a smile; thinking of you; where flowers bloom so does hope, etc.

The card below uses two brand-spankin' new sets released just yesterday! I used Foxy and Anatomy of Love to create this friendly little Hello card.

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Cards for Hospitalized Kids

Mackenzie is a normal happy, healthy college student, but her life hasn’t always been normal. In 2011, while her friends were enjoying their senior year, Mackenzie spent weeks in a hospital waiting for a new heart. During that difficult waiting period, Mackenzie received multiple cards from strangers letting her know they cared. That year, Mackenzie got more than a new heart. She received love from the hearts of many caring people who contributed to Cards for Hospitalized Kids.

About Cards for Hospitalized Kids

Cards for Hospitalized Kids (CFHK) is an internationally recognized charitable organization that strengthens the spirits of hospitalized kids through uplifting, handmade cards. Individuals and groups across the world, make handmade cards and send them in to CFHK for distribution in hospitals nationwide.

Cards for Hospitalized Kids was founded in 2011 by Jen Rubino, who had undergone multiple surgeries during her childhood to correct a connective tissue and bone disease. She received a handmade card from a hospital volunteer and it not only brightened her day, it inspired her to create CFHK. She was just 16 at the time.

Recipients

Cards for Hospitalized Kids distributes cards to hospitals and Ronald McDonald Houses nationwide each month, as well on as major holidays. We want to give cards to as many hospitalized kids as possible and we need your help. 

How to Get Involved

For complete instruction on how to get involved, visit their web site. CFHK welcomes people from all walks of life, age, location, and artistic ability. All you have to do is donate a little time and creativity to impact a sick child.

In general, CFHK accepts encouraging cards with messages like Stay Strong, I Believe in You,  or You’re Amazing. At the request of hospitals, CFHK asks that you do not write 'get well', 'feel better' or other comments related to the child's illness because some of the patients suffer from medical conditions that are chronic, life-long, progressive and/or terminal.  Also, please do not include any personal information or religious comments. Hospitals treat patients with various religious beliefs.

After signing your name on the cards, send them to:

Cards for Hospitalized Kids
6567 N. Olmsted
Chicago, IL 60631

Today, Mackenzie is a thriving college student who is no longer on the receiving end of CFHK. She is actually a contributor!! What an inspiration.

Below is a card I made to give to Cards for Hospitalized Kids using the Supermom Set.

Annette

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Card Care Connection

Hello Sweet Fans and welcome to the very first installment of my new series, Ink it Forward. Every two weeks, I will be profiling organizations that accept handmade paper projects (like cards or bookmarks) for people who could benefit from our talents. I introduced you to the series here.

I am excited to profile the first organization,  Card Care Connection.

About the Organization
Card Care Connection is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing sympathetic messages and motivational cards to those who face cancer. The organization's goal is to provide an uplifting message of hope to brighten their day. Through this program, volunteer card makers from all over the United States create handmade cards. Card Care Connection collects and distributes these handmade cards free of charge to identified individuals who may benefit from support. 

Aleeza Granote, founder of Card Care Connection, said:

"I began Card Care Connection through my experience as a clinical medical social worker, in both end of life care and oncology clinics. Through my work, I witnessed firsthand the isolation and loneliness effecting patients as a result of lengthy treatments and extensive travel to hospitals far from their homes. The simple gesture of extending outreach in order to send a message of hope impacted many individuals as such a kind and hopeful act, especially providing comfort and encouragement to many who lack other support networks or coping skills, allowing them to feel empowered through a vulnerable time"

Recipients
Any person with cancer; regardless of type of cancer, stage of the disease, age, income or geographical location; is eligible to receive cards. Card Care Connection focuses on those who have a limited support system or coping abilities. Because some of those individuals do not have a strong group of family and friends to encourage them, your handmade cards can offer so much hope to these people.

One grateful recipient said:

"I want to say thank you for the beautiful handmade card.  This is so appreciated beyond words.  What a nice thing you do for people you have never met.  God bless everyone that takes the time to volunteer for this program.  I am doing great thanks to the support and love from people like you."

How to Get Involved
You can get all the information you need from their web site, which includes guidelines and even packing slips. I encourage you to check them out for full details. They accepts cards all year long and you can send as many cards as you wish from a few cards to an entire box. Cards with hopeful and encouraging messages like thinking of you, have a nice day, hello, care & concern, and hopeful messages are welcome.  Blank cards are also acceptable.  Please try to avoid get well soon, feel better, and religious messages. Some of our recipients are terminal and it is often hard to gauge religious involvement based on individual backgrounds.

Here is one card I plan to send to Card Care Connection.

Using Elegant Sentiments, I stamped "happy" in Versamark onto water color paper and heat set it with gold embossing powder. Then, I rubbed Gelatos at the same angle as the sentiment and used a water brush to blend. I stamped "you're my friend" onto black paper with Versamark, heat set it with white embossing powder, and angled the strip to be parallel with the sentiment.

Thanks for visiting. Please visit my blog for more card ideas. I am also hosting a link party, where you can link up the cards you plan to send to Card Care Connection. Let's inspire eachother!!

Annette


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