Hi All!
I cannot believe it’s already May! What happened to the school year!?
I have something special planned for the May challenge. As you know, I am a supporter of Foster Kids Charity. This charity creates special packs for children who have been taken from their homes by CPS, who often have only the clothes on their back. They also create and distribute snack bags for kids who end up spending hours in the courts. Think about it – these children usually don’t have a concerned adult who is thinking about providing snacks and activities for them while they wait. Believe it or not, Foster Kids Charity distributes 1,000 of these snack bags every month to CPS in our area.
Each bag contains a snack, a drink, a little toy, and an activity of some sort. The charity also tries to include a note of encouragement. For May’s challenge, the theme will be encouragement. After taking a photo of your card, please mail it to me! I will create a snack bag for each card I receive. Don’t forget to add a message and sign your card – it will be going to a specific child! The snack bags go to children ages 2-12, so something cheery and fun would be perfect. To make mailing easier, you can pop your card into an envelope and mail it as usual. I will put it into a fresh envelope for the snack bag. Send your cards to:
P.O. Box 670126
Dallas, TX 75367
If you don’t want to enter the challenge, but you would still like to send an encouragement card, I would LOVE to have as many cards as possible. 1,000 per month is quite an undertaking for them!
I hope you’ll join me in spreading a little love and encouragement to kids who need it. For those of you outside the US, be sure to include your country – what a special treat to receive a card from far away! The challenge will start this Sunday, May 1st.
In the meantime, there are still 5 days left in the April Challenge. So many beautiful entries already!
Thank you in advance and good luck!
Connie
Good on you, Darlene! This is such a lovely idea and one that really brought tears to my eyes. It is so upsetting to find out about these innocent victims. Anything that we can do to make a difference – even if only a momentary one – should not be ignored. I’d like to think you’ll get 100% participation. Mail from Down Under is sometimes taking 2 weeks to arrive in the US, so I’m going to have to get a move on. I hope my mates in Australia and New Zealand will do the same.
Darlene DeVries
Thank you so much Connie!
Cheryl
Awesome challenge. So meaningful! I have quite a few cards already made that I’ll send you. So excited to be a part of this!
calex89
I LOVE this idea! Thank you so much, Darlene, for all you do for foster kids! I was a teacher and worked with some foster children. I know the encouragement this organization provides makes a difference. My Stamping’ Up contact moved to Europe, so I’m thrilled to be able to help by ordering through Michelle’s store, too. I can’t wait to see the cards!
Darlene DeVries
Yay! Thank you Cynthia!
Patty Beers
I would love to send a few cards at a time. (Only entering one in the challenge) I have been looking for a place to give cards and I am sending them to a couple of places but I never know if they feel they are getting too many. (If that is possible)
Would you like us to continue after the Month of May.
Darlene DeVries
Patty, I think continuing after May is a great idea. I will set something up on the site for it when the challenge is over. Thank you. 🙂
Patty Beers
Great. Thank you.
catcards004
What a wonderful cause! Count me in!!!
Darlene DeVries
Awesome, Cat. Can’t wait to see your beautiful cards in person. 🙂
stampyKat
I’m assuming if a little cash or small check was included with the card, you could put that towards the “packages” you are putting together? Or would you prefer PayPal?
Darlene DeVries
Kat, you are very sweet. If you send me something, I would be happy to put it towards the packages. Check/cash is probably better so paypal doesn’t get a chunk.
swimbikerunat60
Oh Darlene, what a wonderful challenge this is!!! If each of us can somehow, bring a smile to this children, it would be fabulous.
I do have a question, if I may…..I’m assuming the cards must be of no specific event like birthdays, right? just a simple greeting like “Hello”, “Thinking of You”, “You are Special” and such? also, it would be wonderful to continue this awesome project through out the year, I think it would be fabulous to send cards like for Halloween, Christmas, Easter and things like that.
Or do you prefer just simple cards with no specific theme?
Thank you for this challenge Darlene, I’m going to tell my stamping friends to join in, even the ones that don’t have a blog.
Big Hugs, my dear.
Maria.
Darlene DeVries
Hi Maria. For these packages, the cards should be happy sunshine, rainbows, bright future, you are special, cute animals, you are loved, etc. They are going to kids who are basically just having a bad day. I’ve already had thoughts about how to continue it forward. 🙂
swimbikerunat60
Fabulous Darlene, count me in, I hope you can figure out how to continue this truly worthy request.
Hugs,
Maria.
Mary Ellen
Hi Darlene. Wha a wonderful thing you are doing! Are 3 X 3 cards okay? I just got the new SSS card kit and I would love to make a lot of little cards for the kids with that set. Thank you!!!
Darlene DeVries
Yes, Mary! I’ll take any size card. I don’t have 3×3 envelopes though. If you have them, can you also send? If not, I can just insert it into an A2 size. I don’t think the kids will care that much.
Mary Ellen
I have a ton of 3 X 3 envelopes left over from a project and I would be happy to include them! Thanks Darlene!
Mary Ellen
Hi again! Cards are made and I am struggling with what to write on the inside. Can you give me some specific ideas of what to say? I know that sounds silly, but I can’t figure out what to write in them! Thanks so much Darlene. I have 30 done and hoping to get more done today. Mary Ellen
Darlene DeVries
Wow Mary Ellen, that’s fantastic! How about a message that says you are loved, you have a special person that is thinking about you and rooting for you, God has a plan for you, you know things will work out, God loves them, things like that. You can even write the same message in each card because they are going to different kids at different times. Thank you again for all your hard work!
thepegster
Hi Darlene,
I just sent off a package of cards to you. Thank you for giving us an opportunity to participate in this worthwhile project. Peg
Darlene DeVries
Thank you Peg!! 🙂