Recently I've been trying to decide how I feel about the Christmas card exchange. I want to let everyone know how our family is doing, what new things have happened in the year and send pictures to show how much the kids have grown. Every year I have the best intention of getting them sent out. Usually it doesn't happen and I have to forgive myself every time I walk to the mailbox and end up getting a stack from people I haven't sent one to in years. If there is one thing I love though, it is getting that stack and sitting down with the kids to show them all the cards and pictures and awesome words of blessings and well-wishes from family and friends. I love it but what do I do with the cards once I have them? I put them on the fridge and they stay there all year. I want to do more with them. I'm striving for perfection here ya know...but seriously, there are plenty of things to do differently here.
First of all I would like to give you a little bit of information I've found while researching.
The greeting card industry is a multi-billion dollar a year market. Hallmark Cards Inc. reported a consolidated revenue of $4 billion for 2009, while American Greetings reported its revenues at $342.8 million. Don't get me wrong-I don't think there is anything wrong with a company making a profit. To be honest, I'm kinda wishing I owned Hallmark right about now...but I digress. On Hallmark's website they claim that 1.5 billion Christmas cards are sent each year and 85% of consumers say they participate in sending cards, letters and photos. Obviously this is a large part of the Christmas traditions for the average household. The question is where can we use our money most effectively in respect to buying or sending Christmas cards?
Here are a few ideas:
- Cards from Africa http://cardsfromafrica.com Featured on the TODAY show, in O Magazine and Newsweek International, to name just a few, this organization makes cards for all occasions from recycled paper. They operate out of Rwanda, a country devastated by civil war, genocide, and the HIV/AIDS virus that has left many children orphaned. Young children are left to raise not only themselves but their younger siblings. The organization has stepped in to fill a need. They provide jobs for the sibling functioning as the head of household caring for their own brothers and sisters. They are deeply committed to fair trade principals by not employing children, giving their employees fair wages, having safe and healthy working conditions, using honest advertising and marketing, and by promoting employee independence and encouraging them to save. They also are actively making a difference for the environment by using recycled paper for the cards and responsible methods of production.
- Cards That Give http://www.cardsthatgive.org/index.html A non-profit site that directs you to more than 100 charities that sell greeting cards to fund their work. Started in 2006, the site features a gallery of cards as well as a comprehensive list of all the charities that offer greeting cards. The websites founder said it perfectly, "Americans spend more than $2 billion on Christmas holiday cards each year. If it were easy for individuals and businesses to buy their greeting cards from non-profit organizations, card sales could generate millions of dollars for worthy causes." The charities range in interests from helping those struggling with cancer, autism, or blindness, to emancipating and healing victims of human trafficking, abuse or neglect, or even to aiding our furry four legged friends.
- UNICEF http://www.shopcardsandgifts.unicefusa.org/ A well known global humanitarian organization, it is dedicated to providing children globally with health care, clean water, nutrition, education, emergency relief, and more. "Despite extraordinary progress, 22,000 children still die each day from preventable causes. Our mission is to do whatever it takes to make that number zero by giving children the essentials for a safe and healthy childhood." By sending a UNICEF card you not only make others aware of the circumstances with which children around the world are faced with but the profits go to helping those children in a very real way.
These are only a few sites to purchase cards that will give back. There are so many others, but also many stores that are selling cards this season also sell cards that when purchased a portion of the profits will go to UNICEF or other large charitable organizations. Be mindful to find holiday cards this season that give more than just well-wishes to family and friends but also give to charities that provide for those in need.
Coming up: I will give you alternative ideas for Christmas cards that not only give to those in need but contribute in other wonderful ways.
