How to Do a Greeting Card Shower

Keep 'em coming...

It's time to celebrate! She's turning 80 years old. But what if mom or grandma is a shut-in, or lives far away from family? Have a greeting card shower! When it's not possible to have a party, this is a way to share good wishes without stress for an elderly or ill person.

Instructions

1. DECIDE
   Do you want to have only friends and family send cards, or would you like to ask the entire community to participate?

2. EMAIL FRIENDS AND FAMILY
   If you want only friends and family to send greeting cards, use email to notify them of the plan. Here's a model of an email message to send to everyone you know who has a connection with the recipient:
   "Grandma Evans is turning 80 in February! To honor her at her birthday and to let her know she is loved, we're having a greeting card shower. Grandma loves receiving mail. Her favorite color is blue, her hobby is growing african violets, and she likes pandas. Please send birthday cards to 1212 Honeylocust St., Atlanta, GA, 17329. If you have contact with anyone who knows Grandma Evans, please pass this message along to them."

3. TAKE OUT AN AD
   If you'd like the entire community to participate, consider taking out a newspaper ad. The ad could say something like this: " Josie Evans is turning eighty! She loves receiving cards. Birthday greetings may be sent to 1212 Honeylocust St., Atlanta, GA, 17329. Thank you for helping her have a fabulous birthday!"

4. USE SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES
   You can also recruit greeting card shower participants by posting an invitation on Facebook or Myspace or any other social networking site on the internet.

5. LOGISTICS
   If you think you might receive a landslide of participation, or if you're concerned about strangers knowing the address of your loved one, rent a post office box for a month. You will need to get someone to check the post office box and deliver the cards to your loved one regularly.

Tips & Warnings

• This idea is lovely for elderly people or for someone who is ill.

• You might ask people to send greeting cards for the entire month of the recipient's birthday.

Resources

• Guideposts Magazine - Inspiring stories...inspiring people.