Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Caring Hearts Card Drive Update

Hi all, I am popping in to share a bit of Caring Hearts update. For the US section alone, we have collected 50,287 cards and we still not finish opening & counting all the boxes. Canada, Australia and UK total is around 7600.

This is the pile of packages I got on 11/21 and on 11/23 I got even more than this. So, needless to say we really are working hard behind the scene to get all these cards sort out and packaged for the nursing homes.



I literally spent the whole Thanksgiving week & weekend just working on this (well, outside my full time job , as I do still have to show up at work... hah!). On Friday and Saturday, I had a couple friends showed up and helped me stuffing all the cards into the envelope and packing them.

This pic below is what left after I packed about 50 boxes of large and medium size USPS box.



As you can see, I definitely didn't get to host Thanksgiving dinner. ;) This is basically our dining table, extended to the max. 




That's me with the first batch of 50 boxes. And, we're not even close to finish. Hubby smartly took the pic from long distance as I have no make up and was worn out from the day work.

Due to this overwhelming results, please be patient for the prize winners announcement. We have to make sure all the list completed before we can do the announcement. To all that contribute, thank you, we are working as hard and as fast as we could. Based on previous years results, we didn't expect it to get this big. It's awesome, but it also lots of work, so most likely we won't announce the winners till end of next week. 

Our priority at this time is to get all the packages sort out and get the packages ready to be shipped to the nursing homes. I wish we could email you all one by one to confirm that  I received your packages, but that's just not possible. I mean we probably have close to one thousand people sending in cards (as I say we're still counting). 

Thank you for your patience & understanding. 

40 comments:

Terrie D. (StarSpry) said...

Wow! What an amazing amount of cards! So happy I was able to contribute to this wonderful cause :)

Kristie Maynard said...

Oh my goodness! That is a huge increase in the number of cards collected. If you need more places to deliver to, I know of a few more in my area. That is wonderful!

Lori Kobular said...

That is so heartwarming to see so many people sending in cards! How awesome is that! If you ever need a person in NJ to help out, I would be glad to pitch in! I am proud to have sent in a some cards for this wonderful cause!

Cindy C. said...

Wow this is amazing!! Thank you and your volunteers for making this heart warming event a reality!

Unknown said...

Thank you for making the Caring Hearts Card Drive possible. You are the blessing here.

Susan

Carol L said...

Thanks for all you do in this wonderful card drive! I'm happy to participate and those who will receive these cards will be grateful too I'm sure! (Hugs)

Stacy said...

This is my first time contributing and it was awesome! My friends and I are going to get started early to ensure we get the max number of cards submitted to spread the crafty love next Christmas. Thank you for pulling this all together (I'm in Calgary, Alberta and Rita already sent a lovely thank you email). Thanks Rita!

Lisa Lara said...

You are so awesome Vera.

cghundley said...

Awesome job by
everyone and thank
you for all your
hard work!
Carla from Utah

Enigma Artist said...

You are all to be commended. Such an awesome feeling to know that just a little bit of kindness will be spread to those in need. Thank you for all you do to support the card drive.

Anonymous said...

On the one hand, I feel badly for adding to your workload....but on the other so happy to see all the outpouring of handmade love. More than doubling last year's collection....you should be so proud! Thanks again for all your hard work and heart!

Ruth G said...

I'm so happy to see that there will be so many wonderful people in nursing who will be receiving some handmade love this Christmas! Thank you so much for all the work that you do with this drive! I love making beautiful cards that will hopefully bring joy to a few hearts at Christmas!!!

Blessings to you and keep up the really good and important work! Prizes are nice, but it's really all about spreading joy and love during a time when many feel lonely.

Deeps said...

Wow, so glad I could send in a few cards. Thanks for doing this every year.

terrie said...

This is awesome, thank you for putting this card drive together....
My grand daughters stamp the outside on the envelopes and they want to do it again for next year...it was great quality time with them.
I told them that it was for a good cause for people who lives in nursing home....
I know that this cards will put a smile on someone face this season..
Again thank you for what you do behind the scene and the update....hugs

Gloria Westerman said...

Thank you so much for doing this...I know its hard work and wish we live closer so I could help...maybe if you did a call out to anybody living close to you in the card world that they would come and help...

PS...I didn't know you were suppose to put the cards in the envelope ...sorry...

Lena said...

What an awesome turn out! I think that you will grow even more as years go by because more people will become aware of this worthy cause. It's Christmas time, time to share love and kindness and what better way to do this than to do something you love. Thank you so much for presenting this opportunity to share kindness. Awesome job, Vera. I hope that I can come help you next year and I plan to start making my cards earlier too :-)
Loads of hugs,
Lena

Daria Z. said...

Wow, what an amazing amount of cards! Thanks for all of your hard work on this project and thanks for a peek behind the scenes.

Brenna K said...

Man, I wish I could be there to help out! I am so excited to see so many nursing homes around the country receive these! I will proudly make cards again next year-this will become a highlight of my Christmas season and a good reason to kick off the playing of Christmas music as I sit around coloring, etc! Thank you Vera for all your hard work and kind spirit!

Anna Tracy said...

What a blessing for all of you who are behind the scenes!!! Thank you for updating us with these amazing pictures. How exciting!!!

Barb Ghig said...

Thank you so much for all the time and work you've put into this project!!! There is a special place in heaven for people like you :)

Donna said...

Wow, such a good outlet for all the extra cards we all enjoy making, you and your helpers are truly angels to do this over your "Thanksgiving Vacation". I'm so grateful to find out about this.
God bless!

Chark said...

you look so cute and husbands are the best! Amazing amount of cards!

Amy C. said...

Happy to see it was a great success. Thanks for all your hard work in distributing the cards. Merry Christmas!

Marilyn said...

Thank you for the update. A huge thank you to you and your helpers to make this happen ... you rock!!

Lynette @ My Craft Discovery said...

Oh wow! I can't believe how many cards we've all made! That is SO exciting! But I do feel bad about how much work it has been this year. Thank you for your hard work!!!

Aileen said...

Vera
This is just so amazing, watching each year the total number of cards going up up up. I cant wait to tell my mum. She is in a Nursing Home and I actually did my first time totally doing all cards for the nursing home unlike previous years where I did just some cards. You have inspired so many people to look beyond themselves and to see what they can do. I never thought I could sit in my craft room and make individual cards (not bulk patterns or ideas) and still make up to 30 in a day. I was so inspired by you and all the others that have then come behind and supported this wonderful cause. I look forward to many more years. I cannot believe 50,287 for America alone, that it truly amazing. Do you ever sit there and think wow I have inspired people to this!!! Don't burn yourself out, if I lived over there I would offer to come help but a bit far from Australia. Hugs to you and all those others who have done the sorting and organising Aileen

Marianne said...

Wow, that is an amazing outcome, but a lot of work for you and the other volunteers. I do hope you'll have a few extra hands to help you next year. I'm happy to have contributed to spreading a little kindness and holiday cheer all the way from Greece to the UK.

D said...

Wow girl, you rock!!! Congratulations on getting such an impressive amount of cards. Be sure to pamper yourself a little when you are done! You deserve it!

Debbie B said...

Such a wonderful thing you are doing here! Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication of time. You are an angel to all of those recipients of handmade cards across the country. It felt great to contribute to this cause! Thank you Thank you Thank you! Hopefully you can get a little more help next year with the increase of donations growing! Merry Christmas!

Cardsbymaaike said...

your work is awesome!

Laura Peddicord said...

You are amazing! You have created a wonderful and caring project that benefits not only those who receive the Caring Hearts cards, but those of us who were able to make them. Now you are working a full-time job, while sorting and repackaging them. Thank you for such a great gift to all! Laura

Nikki said...

Omg that's HUGE Congrats on getting all those cards :)

Anonymous said...

It is wonderful to see that there still is so much kindness in the world! Thank you for organizing the drive and putting in all the hours it is taking to make sure the cards get to the people who need them!! God bless!

Crafting with Jeanne said...

SO SO SO COOL!! I am proud to have helped. I only wish I could physically help you sort and repack the cards. Such a wonderful drive, Vera. (Pat on the back and big hugs!)

Pam A said...

Awesome! You are a true angel.

Mary-Anne V said...

Glad to see the amazing turnout. I would gladly help you if I lived near you! Thanks for all your hard work and grateful for your wonderful helping friends.

Debra said...

Vera, those of us who sent in cards had the easy part...thank you for all you do to bring joy to those in need.

gabriella said...

Thank you for organizing this. It made me feel good to contribute

gabriella said...

Thank you for organizing this, it made me feel good to contribute.

Kay said...

Thank you so much for spear heading this. What an honor it was to be a part of this great project. Warms my heart. May you be blessed for your caring spirit and hard work on getting all those cards out.

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