From Our Hearts

a long walk from Wisconsin

Whenever we get an email telling us that a generous soul is sending us a package and after we calm down from the excitement, we have a mailing list that name goes on, so that we know who is sending the package. We have a second list that we use when we have confirmation that the package has actually been sent, so that we can be on the look out for it.

Imagine our surprise when, back in April, we put down that we expected a package from Cathy S. and it showed up today in Missouri, Look at this poor thing, it apparently walked all the way from Wisconsin and encountered many hardships along the way.

 

But despite it's bruised and battered exterior, it's contents were in perfect condition. Thank you Cathy for your package and don't worry about the delay, we are very patient when we know what great things are inside for our Troops!

Supporting Our Troops has no age boundaries

One of our Stampin' From Our Hearts for Our Troops card making events took place in Jefferson City, MO on Saturday June 27, 2009 at Heisinger Bluffs Retirement Center. Nina Meeks, recreation coordinator has graciously chosen From Our Hearts to be their community service project and they will be making cards for the troops on a regular basis. They stamped quite efficiently for a couple of hours and ended up with a nice group of cards to be included in one of our boxes. Rumor has it that all of the other volunteers that showed up, like Gerry and Winona from the Jefferson City Optimist Club, were in awe at how quickly this group worked ! 

Way to go residents ! Show all those young folks how it's done. We will look forward to seeing what great work you accomplish in the next event ! Thank you so much for Supporting Our Troops.

And from the great state of Ohio . . .

With the expected goal of 20,000 Holiday cards being sent over this upcoming Holiday season, we are starting to stockpile certain supplies. In fact, we just ordered extra envelopes, packing tape and clear protective envelopes to help us through this rush that will be here shortly. 13 events in the next 8 weeks or so, means we will be preparing a whole lot of boxes. Check our calendar for the locations of the card making events coming up.

So, when this box showed up on Friday, hmmm, should we be excited that we were getting a huge box of envelopes or was it cleverly disguised and maybe some cards? ? ?  We hit the perfecta . . .

 

 

Cards with envelopes ! ! !  Carol L, your precious cargo arrived and has already been separated for shipment. When cards arrive ready to go, they have a very short shelf life at our office. Basically because we have no more room and there is always a box ready to be shipped out. Thank you Carol. They were so lovely.

When every moment counts...

All of us today have used or thought the famous and overused phrases,'there just not enough hours in a day' or my favorite, 'I just ran out of time today'. When you have a job, a home, a family and outside interests, time is often your enemy. 'Where did the time go' so many of us ask at the end of the week, trying to squeeze one more thing into a already packed schedule.

So when you hear about someone who is really good with time management and who shares your passions for giving, you have to take a closer look.

This is Judy, one of our volunteers in Missouri who takes time out of her very short half hour lunch break every day to put our finished cards with an envelope and then slip them both of those pieces into a clear envelope to be sealed up. One of the most crucial parts of our operation, without it our cards wouldn't stand a chance in the dirty war zone. In just two days, Judy can complete enough cards to fill one entire box to be ready to be shipped. And have lunch. All in one half of an hour. The queen this week of wonderful time management. Judy, we really appreciate all of your efforts on behalf of all the military members who will love those perfectly clean cards.

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This just goes to prove that every little contribution makes a very big difference. Our thanks go out to Judy and all of our contributors who so generously give of their precious time and money to help us out.

from 12 to 1200, they are all from your hearts to From Our Hearts

Keeping with the old principle, 'it is always better to have quality than quantity', we received this wonderful package from Stacey, from Michigan, that contained a group of Thinking of You cards.

While it is important that we get large boxes of cards to send over, it is equally important that we acknowledge the other packages we receive as well.  It has never been about the volume of cards but the incredible quality of what is sent to From Our Hearts.  Every single card has been made with love and appreciation for all of what our military personnel do for our freedom everyday.  Every single card is greeted with a warm welcome and 'glad you are here' from our volunteer staff, then sent on its important journey 7,000+ miles away, only to turn around and come back another 7,000+ miles.  Talk about frequent flier miles . . .

 

Thinking of you, such a strong sentiment that will mean so much to a loved one back home when they open an eagerly anticipated envelope from either Iraq or Afghanistan.  We really are making difference one quality handcrafted card at a time.  Just ask the person who will received one of these.

meanwhile back in Kansas . . .

Earlier this week, we talked about our phenomenal crew in Kansas.  Now keep in mind before the story continues who we are.  From Our Hearts, is a 501c3 not-for-profit that solely relies on volunteer energy to complete our 'mission'.  Volunteers who make these wonderful cards, volunteers who get them ready to go over and volunteers who run our operation.  The fourth set of our volunteers is a group of unbelievable ladies who go so far above and beyond the call of duty, that everyone should know about them.  You will see why in a moment.

Much of the stamping community participates in something known as 'swapping', or exchanging their ideas in the form of card fronts.  This is just the top half of the card, where the design is.  We use these swaps to learn new techniques, different patterns and color combinations.  Once we have finished with the card front, very few dispose of them.  Most stampers are hoarders, yes, we just typed a huge confession!  We love to hold on to our card samples.

But here at From Our Hearts, card fronts are integral part of what we do.  For months, we have been asking stampers for card fronts and they have been sending them . . .  by the thousands, tens of thousands.  They are sent to Kansas to Regina Aldrine, Director of Card Procurement for FOH. It looks something like this . . .

 

these fronts then need to be mounted to cardstock to become a viable card.  Here's Cathie cutting about 800 sheets of cardstock, 1600 cards worth for the latest shipment to arrive . . .

  

then Cathie, Regina, Mary and Sue tackle and attack  . . .

 

and when they finish, many, many hours later, we have thousands of great looking cards ready to go over.  All volunteered, out of love and commitment to our effort; what more can we ask for?  They are  key to who we are and it is so important for the whole world to appreciate all of the countless hours they donate.

So stampers, keep those card fronts coming!  Regina's table is clear right now and they are just chomping at the bit to get more boxes.

Regina, Mary, Sue and Cathie, we thank you From Our Hearts  . . .

113 degrees with penguins ! ! !

Oh the weather outside is frightful . . .  yep you bet!  In the Midwest today the heat index is well over 100 degrees, in Iraq today it was 113 in the shade and we are all excited about snow, penguins and the Holidays!  No, we are not suffering from heat stroke (yet) but we are in high swing for the upcoming Holiday season.  Believe it or not, this is what is arriving in very hot Missouri . . .

 

yes, that is one very adorable penguin and his buddy . . .

 

the Christmas cardinal.

It takes a whole lot of Holiday cards for everyone to get a couple, about 4,200 and so now is the time to be stamping them and sending them, just like Carolyn.  Thank you Carolyn for your gorgeous artwork.

We have many Holiday card making events happening across the country in the next 5 weeks, so PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE find one near you and come by, stamp a card, assemble a card or just say hi. We would love to say hello.  Our calendar is on the right side of this column, near the bottom and all of our locations are listed.  Any questions, want to send cards or postage,  write us at info@FromOurHearts.info and we will get you an answer PRONTO!

A Box Received Today From Missouri

At first glance, it appeared to be a box from Stampin' Up!  But the address label and return address said otherwise; the box was sent from a Stampin' Up! demonstrator in Missouri.

And are we pleased!   Not only does this box contain hundreds of cards and card fronts, but tucked inside is a special cash donation "to use for what ever you need".

It will be put to very good use to purchase much needed clear envelopes to send her donated cards to our troops!

Thank you, Micky L., from Missouri.  Your kind gesture and generosity is much appreciated! 

entertaining our volunteer staff . . .

When we talk about hundreds and hundreds of card fronts coming in, we are not joking.  It really is that many.  It has to be that many to supply all the boxes that are needed to be filled every month.

What was humorous this week was what we found out about our wonderful group of volunteers in Kansas.  Later this week we will introduce you to that operation but right now it is time to share the funny little thing we just now discovered.

As when regular boxes of completed cards come in, every single card front is examined and taken apart so that it can be refit on to an actual card to be sent overseas. 

This picture came in from Kansas letting us know that a large box of card fronts and accessories had arrived from Sharon C.

This was the note we received from our volunteers: " . . . we were so excited about getting a box in the mail that we just had to open it and the fronts were so AWESOME; we ooh'd and aah'd and they were great sources of afternoon entertainment."

Thank you Sharon for the wonderful box of card fronts and for entertaining the staff as well!  It sounds like they had a great time!

A Heartfelt Happy Father's Day to All Fathers Serving Our Country

On behalf of the board of From Our Hearts, we wish to extend a special Happy Father's Day wish to all fathers who are serving our country, helping to defend and protect our freedom.  It is especially difficult for those who are separated from their families on this, your special day of recognition.
We thank you for all you do for us.

May God bless all of you, may he keep all of you safe and return you to your families, safely.

Martie, President and Founder