Cards for Troops to Send Home

Oregon Coast Avid Stampers (ORCAS)

Soon after the war in Iraq began, the ladies of the Oregon Coast Avid Stampers (ORCAS) wanted to do something to support the troops. One of our members, a lifelong Red Cross volunteer told us that soldiers in places like Iraq and Afghanistan don’t have access to greeting cards to send home to families. That makes it difficult to stay connected with family and friends at home. We made “Cards for Troops to Send Home” our group project.

The first year, we sent about 200 cards through a connection with the Red Cross. We soon realized we wanted to have a more direct connection with the soldiers, so we aligned with organizations sending comfort boxes/care packages. We bundle 4-5 cards in a wrapper, give the bundles to organizations, and they include them in boxes shipped to individual soldiers.

We announced our program in rubber stamping and card making magazines, and enlisted the help of just about anyone who would listen. We began receiving cards from local stampers and those in other cities. In our third year, Heirloom Productions carried our message across the country. Heirloom produces paper and rubber stamping national conventions in 16 – 20 cities each year. (www.heirloompro.com) We received cards from crafters after each convention. Many continue to contribute their creations year after year. Others hear about our project from friends, on the internet and through the cards they receive from troops. We even have military family members who make cards!

Each year, Heirloom provides the ORCAS with a booth at the Portland convention. We design cards and provide supplies for shoppers “make and donate’ cards for the troops.

With the help of all these wonderful cardmakers, in 2009, we sent over 120,000 cards.

Some of the organizations we work with are Operation Care Packages, www.operationcarepackages.org , Love Boxes for Our Troops, http://www.loveboxesforourtroops.com/index.html , Hearts for Heroes, WavesEndDepoeBay@aol.com

We accept;
• Cash donations, to defer the cost of postage and supplies.
• Unused commercial greeting cards
• New handmade greeting cards

Please send all donations (cash or cards) to ORCAS, c/o C. Schroeder; 4300 N Hwy 101; Depoe Bay, OR 97341; for more information about the "Cards for Troops to Send Home" project, contact Claudette Schroeder, 541-764-8914, ORCAS@JNRCOM.COM

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