How Your Creative Cards Can Make a Big Impact
In my last post of this series, I discussed how to teach kids to donate toys, clothes, and money to charity – and have fun doing it! Teaching our kids to give back and serve others is a valuable opportunity we have in our homeschools. In this post, I’ll teach you how you and your kids can make a difference with simple letters or cards to veterans and other groups.
A Simple Card Goes A Long Way
When I was little, I remember 2:00pm was one of my favorite times of the day. That was when the mail truck came! I don’t know why – I never got a ton of mail – but going to check the mailbox brought me a lot of simple joy. (And I’m not alone – statistics show that about 41% of Americans look forward to the simple act of checking the mail).
And on the occasions that I did receive a letter, it just made my day!
Receiving a nice card or letter in the mail lifts spirits and can brighten someone’s afternoon. It’s an easy way to send love in an envelope to someone far away who might need an uplifting message.
And who doesn’t love to get mail? Today, the art of mailing letters and cards often gets lost in lieu of simpler, less personable means of communication. However, this is an easy way to get involved without spending a ton of money or leaving your home.
Who Should I Send Letters To?
There are many programs out there that will organize getting your letters to the elderly, include your cards for veterans in care packages, or give them to children who are in the hospital or foster care.
Many senior citizens who might be confined to their homes or a nursing home would be delighted to receive a friendly letter! Letters are also often included in care packages sent to our military troops – what a great way to show gratitude for their service. Finally, for a child who is inpatient in a hospital, receiving mail might be a lot of fun (and a crafty card can help brighten up a hospital room).
It’s all about teaching our kids to take the time to let others know they are loved and appreciated; a practice in thinking about others’ happiness and how even small acts can make a difference in someone’s day.
What Organizations Will Take Our Letters?
You might have a local place you can drop of letters, such as a nursing home, senior center or a children’s hospital. You might even have some long-distance friends and family members who would love receiving a card in the mail. But if you want a few other ideas, any of the organizations I’ve listed below would be great choices (and they make it super easy to send in your cards!)
Cards for Veterans
- Operation Gratitude – This is a great way to thank the men and women who serve our country. Each care box sent to troops from Operation Gratitude includes letters and cards. We have loved making cards for veterans and sending them through this organization.
- Operation Military Matters also includes cards in care packages sent monthly.
- A Million Thanks – This organization sends letters directly to active, reserve, and veteran military.
- Send a card to military spouses and children through Support Military Families.
- Send letters of encouragement to Veterans through America’s Adopt a Soldier.
Cards for the Elderly
- Love For Our Elders – This organization is committed to collecting cards and mailing them to those in senior communities worldwide.
- Consider becoming a Senior Angel. Your family will have weekly correspondence with a senior to remind them that they are loved and cared for.
- Bring Smiles to Seniors accepts letters from card donors (whom they call “Card Angels”) to distribute to seniors across the country.
Cards for Kids
- Send a Smile 4 Kids – This organization will collect and distribute cards to kids in Children’s Hospitals all over the United States.
- Cards of Hope – Send birthday or encouragement cards to kids in foster care.
- Cards for Hospitalized Kids helps you share your handmade cards and spread joy to kids in hospitals.
What Exactly Should I Write?
It can be hard to know what to say sometimes when writing a letter. Check out these great resources below if you are struggling with getting started:
- Operation Gratitude will send you a letter writing toolkit when you register here!
- Here is a wonderful page with tips on what to include in your letters to the military (including encouraging quotes and scriptures!). Many tips could be modified for letters for other organizations as well. I’ve definitely bookmarked this one to use!
- Teachers Pay Teachers has so many great FREE resources and templates you can use for letters to Veterans.
- Cards for Hospitalized Kids has some great tips for what to include (and what NOT to include) when sending a letter to a child in the hospital.
- Here are a few ideas of what to include in a card or letter for a senior.
Finally, if you want to turn this into a full lesson on letter writing and gratitude, Scholastic has a free lesson plan online that would be great to incorporate into your homeschool.
Other Ways Cards Can Make A Difference
There are a few other ways your kids might have fun showing kindness with cards.
You might try writing a kind note to leave somewhere (like in a book you are returning to the library) for the next person to find.
Your kids might love creating cards to give to the custodian at church, the mailman, or librarians. Check out our Pinterest Board for some great ideas on handmade card crafts for kids.
Cards Give Back In More Ways Than One
It is so important to teach our kids to be kind and show love to others. The simple act of sending letters and cards can benefit both the receiver and the sender, as we teach our kids to have empathy for others and how they can give back (even in small ways).
Start today by grabbing a piece of paper, fun colored pens or markers, and teach your kids how even a simple note can brighten someone’s day!
Don’t Miss the 12 Days of Serving Others Series
This post is part of the series “12 Days of Serving Others”. In this series, you’ll find great tips and ideas on how you can incorporate service and volunteering into your homeschool all year.
I’ll link the rest of the series posts here to make it easy to navigate!
- Something Important That Might Be Missing From Your Homeschool
- The “Giving Box” and Other Ways Kids Will Love to Donate
- How Your Creative Cards Can Make a Big Impact
- Helping Our Furry Friends: Fun Ways Kids Can Get Involved
- The Best Boxes You’ll Ever Pack
- One Wreath Can Make a Difference
- Random Acts of Kindness: How to Make Them a Habit
- Why You’ll Want to Host a “Packing Party” This Season
- Crafted With Love: Wonderful Service Projects for Crafty Kids!
- How To Begin Volunteering With Your Family
- 7 Ways to Bless Others With Your Baking Skills
- How to Build a Great Foundation for Service With Your Kids
I love hearing from you! Drop a comment below to let me know if there are any organizations I’ve missed that you love to send cards and letters to.
This post is also part of the 12 Days of Homeschooling Fun Through the Holidays Series. Click here to check out the other amazing bloggers who are a part of this, and to enter the giveaway!
