Idea of the Day: What to do with the holiday cards now that you are thinking about taking down the Xmas tree…*

This is actually a re-post from last January. It deserves to be posted every year around the same time…

Send them to St. Jude’s Hospital St. Jude’s RANCH and help the children earn some college money!

I received this email about the Greeting Card recycling program at St. Jude’s.  Wish I have heard about it in the previous years…

“Friends and family,

Before you toss out all those Christmas cards, read this….

Over 30 years ago, wishing to show our donors our appreciation for making St. Jude’s Ranch for Children possible, the idea was conceived for turning the previous year’s Christmas cards into ‘new’ cards for the coming season. The recipients were so delighted with their unique ‘thank you,’ they requested the children sell them the special cards. And so, the St Jude’s Card Recycling Program was born.

Today we have expended the program to include ‘all occasion’ greeting cards…just about anything that starts with a used greeting card front.

People from all over the world send us their used card fronts. The children precision cut the card fronts and glue them to pre-printed card stock. The children receive 15 cents for each acceptable card made which is divided among their savings, a college fund, their cottage fund for special group outings, and to provide the kids with extra pocket money.

The children can make special orders for any occasion. Our most popular requests are for angel and teddy bear cards. Custom orders with special printing, etc. are also available.”

Please send your used all occasion greeting cards (front page only) to:

St. Jude’s Ranch for Children
Recycled Card Program
100 St. Jude’s Street
Boulder City, NV 89005

* I assume that many of you are doing exactly this: putting away the Christmas ornaments, cursing, wondering the futility of this whole thing. (Note: Alcohol helps!) My tree is staying up till February, along with all the Christmas decorations. Luckily I focus on the snowman-theme and the winter here lasts till March, so the decorations all make sense until spring comes. And seriously, you cannot complain about seeing Baby Jesus in the manger if you ARE a good Christian. At least THAT’s my story and I am sticking to it.

18 thoughts on “Idea of the Day: What to do with the holiday cards now that you are thinking about taking down the Xmas tree…*

    1. Absence Alternatives Post author

      Just leave everything up! When Nathan is old enough (sometime this year) he can help you. 😉 Happy New Year!

      Reply
  1. Diane

    Great! Thank you for this. I save my cards every year (I used to teach CCD and would use them for crafts for the kids, but even though I don’t teach any more, I still save the cards, in Ziplock bags in with my Xmas decorations.) They’re building up and now I have somewhere to send them.

    Just a note, this is St. Jude’s Ranch for Children and is not affiliated with St. Jude Hospital. Same saint, different cause. 🙂

    Reply
    1. Absence Alternatives Post author

      Ooops. So embarrassing. I didn’t realize the mistake until now. I corrected it. Thanks! 🙂 Actually, now it makes more sense. I was a bit confused why they have a hospital AND a rescue mission…

      Reply
  2. Velva

    Not fair, that I am just reading this! I have already thrown my Christmas cards away (ugh). What a great way to recycle your holiday cards. Promise me, that you will post this again next year, around the 26th-That’s when I start taking all the trimmings down and craving the percieved normalcy of the “I will feel so much better after the holidays are over syndrome”…..
    .-= Velva´s last blog…Honey Roasted Pork Tenderloin Stuffed with Pecans and Apricots =-.

    Reply
  3. Elly Lou

    Brilliant! Guess what is the one holiday decoration that didn’t get ripped down and boxed up on Dec 26… Yup! The xmas cards are still taped to my front door. I’m all about getting those bitches a second life. Game on! Gold stars for you, Butter Cup!

    Reply
  4. Randa

    What a wonderful idea, I’m going to pass it on to my mom, she gets 100s of cards every year. I myself got two! On from my single friend in NYC(a pic of her in Times Square) and one from another best friend of her two kids. I’m sorry St. Jude but you will not be getting those cards from me!
    Christmas was down the day after, mostly because the tree was a fire hazard. We left the lights up until yesterday, when they magically disappeared while I was at work!
    Oh and they’re already selling Easter candy at WalMart. Awesome!
    .-= Randa´s last blog…Trying out a NaBloPoMo Again… =-.

    Reply
  5. magda

    Ooooh. That is great in so many ways. I will pass this info on to all of my teacher friends, since it is too late for us this year as I am a wizard purger and it is all gone. Must be reminded next year at beginning of holiday season. Please put that on your calendar…to remind me:)

    Reply
  6. Andrea

    I got lucky when the hubby and kids took down ALL the Christmas stuff while I was away at a ob/gyn appointment. YAY! It almost made lying half naked with my feet in stirrups worth it!
    .-= Andrea´s last blog…"Times Like These" =-.

    Reply

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