Cards For A Cause

Cardmakers tend to make a lot of cards.  Most of us have piles and piles, or shoeboxes upon shoeboxes, of our creations, but actually giving them away or sending them seems to be a common dilemma.   I frequently hear, "But, I really like this card" or "I don't want to give it away!"  I totally get it.  I have my fair share of "favorites" or cards that took me hours to create that I would not give to just anyone.  So, they sit on a shelf in my craft room only to be admired by me.

Well, what if the very same joy that card brought to you, could be shared with so many others instead of sitting on that shelf, or tucked away in a box somewhere? There are many worthwhile organizations that always need cards, and accept donations of handmade cards to use.  Stop hoarding all those cards and pay it forward!  Donating to any of these organizations is a great way to enjoy your hobby while also helping others.

Here are some great resources to help get you started:

Hospitals

Types of Cards: encouragement, cheer, thank you, others.
Contact: Your local hospital auxiliary
In their support role for the hospital, local hospital auxiliaries can use cards for patient and staff support. Some hospital auxiliaries also run gift shops that sell handmade items where card donations may be welcomed. (Note that many hospitals will not accept cards with “get well” themes or religious messages, but contact your area hospital directly to see what they accept.)

Churches

Types of Cards: Thank you, hello, cheer, baby, wedding, holidays, sympathy
Contact: The congregation’s secretary
Many card makers need look no further than their own church for a great place to donate their cards, as even in the age of email many churches still send large amounts of traditional cards to members. Ask your church what cards are most needed!

Local Charities

Types of Cards: All cards
Contact: Your charity of choice.
You can find most online. Check https://www.donorschoose.org/ to find a charity local to you.  Charities spend a lot of time saying thank you, to their donors and to their volunteers. Other cards they might need depend on the particular charity’s mission, so check with your chosen charity to find out their needs.

Nursing Homes

Types of Cards: All holidays & occasions, thank you, hello, cheer.
Contact: A facility in your community.
One of the challenges of providing quality of life for residents of long term care facilities is helping them continue to feel connected to family, friends, and the community. Providing them a supply of handmade cards to use to keep in contact with their loved ones is one thing that can help bridge that gap.

Color Give Smile

Types of Cards: Cheer and friendship
Contact: http://colorgivesmile.weebly.com/
This group promotes the sending of positive messages of cheer and friendship to seniors living in assisted living facilities. Participants can find their own local facility to send to, or Color Give Smile will provide them with contact information for a suggested facility whose seniors are in need of some cheer.

Photo credit: Scrapbook.com

Ronald McDonald House

Types of Cards: All holidays & occasions, thank you, cheer
Contact: Visit https://www.rmhc.org/ to find a facility near you
Ronald McDonald House attached to children’s hospitals around the country enable families to stay near their child while the child receives needed medical care. Whether it is supporting families or thanking their donors and volunteers, handmade cards can play a small, but valuable role in the important mission of Ronald McDonald House.

Send A Smile For Kids

Types of Cards: Varies – check their request updates.
Contact: http://sendasmile4kids.blogspot.com/
This blog currently serves five different children’s hospitals around the United States, collecting and distributing cards for children who are hospitalized at the facilities. Their card needs vary, so be sure to check the blog for updates and holiday shipping deadlines.

Cards for Hospitalized Kids

Types of Cards: Cheer, encouragement
Contact: http://www.cardsforhospitalizedkids.com/
This Illinois‐based group collects cards for hospitalized kids and distributes them to hospitals in all 50 states. As their motto says, “Doctors provide medicine and we provide hope, joy and magic.”

Military Missions

Types of Cards: Cheer, encouragement, and thank you
Contact: http://military-missions.org/info/
This non‐profit organization sends care packages year‐round to members of the United States military that are deployed overseas. Military Missions collects signed cards of encouragement to include in the packages they send to help show support for the troops.

Bring Smiles to Seniors

Types of Cards: Thinking of you, positive messages, cheer
Contact: https://www.bringsmilestoseniors.com/
Bring Smiles to Seniors is a national non-profit that focuses on showing beloved senior citizens love and kindness. They are looking for handmade or store-bought cards to give to seniors all around the country, or supplies for organized cardmaking events. They do ask that you send the card unsealed so they can sticker it with an easy-to-open sticker. They're looking for everyday "Thinking of You" cards and general positivity themes. 

Soldier's Angels

Types of Cards: Birthday, encouragement, cheer, get well, anniversary, baby, welcome home
Contact: https://soldiersangels.org/Cards‐Plus‐Team.html
The Cards Plus Team at Soldiers’ Angels supports deployed service members, veterans, and their families through the encouragement of cards and notes. Angel team members can also request cards for someone they know in need of support.

Heartillary Group

Types of Cards: Cheer, thank you, encouragement, holiday
Contact: http://heartillerygroup.org/

This non‐profit, founded by a military wife, is devoted to one simple mission: collecting cards of encouragement for deployed service members. Heartillary sends cards out year‐round, so there’s no need to wait for a holiday to share some cheer!

St. Jude's Recycled Cards Program

Types of cards:  All kinds
Contact:  https://stjudesranch.org/recycled-card-program/

Yes!  We are still accepting the fronts of your recycled cards (except for Hallmark, American Greetings and Disney which we are unable to accept due to copyright laws) as we continue to revamp our recycled card program in our effort to provide teens with life and work skills.
Please SEND to:  St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, 100 St. Jude’s St., Boulder City, NV 89005.
We also accept new cards (any occasion) with or without the envelopes.

Photo credit: scrapbook.com

Whether you are sending cards to your own mom, BFF, co-workers, the teachers at your kids' school, the local hospital, nursing home, or unknown soldiers on the other side of the world, handmade cards carry a heartfelt message and help brighten someone's day in the most simple of ways.

Share your handmade love today!

XO, Crystal

P.S. - This is just a small sampling of organizations that I am aware of.  If you know of other groups/causes that could use donated cards, please let me know so I can add them to this list for reference.