Helpful Hints

Since we guarantee each hospital that NONE of the cards will say ‘Get Well Soon’, we look through every card that’s made. 

Based on our experience of reading over 5,000 cards here are some Helpful Hints:

1. Use glitter glue  rather than sprinkling glitter on glue
• Glitter glue makes it much easier to transport the cards. Also stays on card better
• Okay and let’s be honest. Our couches are covered in that sprinkle glitter J
2. Sign your first name on all your cards so they seem more personal
• Now that we have locations ranging from Alaska to New York it’d be fun to state your city too.
• We asked some of our friends at Senior Living and Elementary Schools to write their ages as well.*
3.  At the end of the quarter, keep your eye out for the OVERALL TOP 10
• The top artists are invited to make cards with children at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago. Please reach out if your masterpiece is selected.
4. Based on the long distance the cards have to travel, we do not recommend gluing on small “fuzz balls”
• Our concern is that they may come off during the shipping. Either way still works. Still looks good. But be careful.
• Limit the religious references or specific holidays (i.e. Christmas)
• We can’t promise those cards will be delivered room to room since they must go through a separate group at the hospital.

Either way we can deliver all the cards as long as they don’t say ‘Get Well Soon’, but we still wanted to provide these Helpful Hints!

#helpfulhints #upliftingspirits

*From,

Your Buddy in Chicago,

Marcus, Age 82

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Today's Special!

Here’s a question we often receive.

Do you guys accept cards on….

• The last Thursday in November?
• Yup we definitely do! Kids LOVE turkey cards and we’re thankful!!! :) 

• December 25^th?
• Yeah!!! It’s a shame that kids are in the hospital at this time, but receiving cards around the holidays would definitely cheer them up!

• January 1^st?
• Yes for sure! Getting a creative card is an excellent way to start out the year!

• February 14^th?
• Of course! The kids would LOVE to receive cards this day

• Well what about March 10^th, May 11^th, August 11^th, October 2^nd…..
• YES!!! Those dates are all PERFECT too!

Now some may say, “wait wait there’s no picture under those dates! They’re not holidays so they’re not important.”

Our response: no picture no problem!

Although it’s horrific that some kids spend holidays in the hospital, hospitalization is traumatizing no matter what day of the year. Based on our conversations with volunteers and staff, we learned that more people donate around “special” dates. Don’t get us wrong, if you are contributing, don’t stop that is AMAZING!!

It’s just Cardz for Kidz! believes that no matter what day of the year, Today’s Special, and we need to make sure the kids feel cherished each and every day!

#todaysspecial #upliftingspirits

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*FYI. Dates were selected because this post was written on 11/8/2013 at 1:15pm. Those dates are all just mixes of those numbers used to convey that every day is important!

Not Too Thin!

It’s official. Cardz FROM Kidz! has launched;  our partnership with the Salvation Army and Little Brothers – Friend of the Elderly!!!

Background. How it works is we ask grade school students to make cards. Then grade school teachers get to choose if they’d like their students’ cards to go to isolated seniors or to hospitalized and/or traumatized children. If teachers don’t indicate a preference, we split it up to make sure we have enough cards for the seniors, as well as the children.

Now some may think, “Cardz for Kidz! is still in the growth phase! They shouldn't expand to reach other citizens.” Our response: it’s a partnership. Actually, we’re benefiting more! The seniors at the Salvation Army’s Booth Manor and Little Brothers- Friends of the Elderly, have created and donated THREE times as many cards as we've sent them.

Our buddy, Shirley at Booth Manor, posing with some cards that she made during the first event. 

During her free time she made 40 more cards. 

This partnership touches “solitary seniors” and “hospitalized and/or traumatized children”. Often these seniors get encouraged knowing that not only is someone thinking of them, but the cards they’re making are uplifting a child’s spirit. This inspires them to make even more.

A picture of Christine an employee of Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly posing with the cards made by elementary school students in Maywood, Illinois. Also, with cards that her participants made for patients.

In summary, our elder friends are activated to create more cards. Based on that partnership in terms of spreading ourselves….we’re definitely Not Too Thin!

#upliftingspirits #nottoothin

To see more pictures and stories please check out our Facebook page, follow us on Twitter , or visit our LinkedIn page!