From Our Hearts

Another Angel in Our Corner

Her name is Kari.  She lives in Washington, MI.  It seems that she always knows when From Our Hearts is in need.  This was time was no exception.  Planning was underway for our very first annual Mother's Day card making event and fundraiser to be held on February 6 and Kari e-mailed us, out of the blue.

"I'm sending you a box of supplies.  I figured you could use them."

Not knowing what she had in mind (as we never do when Kari starts filling up her box), we waited patiently for her box to arrive.  And take a look at what we found when we opened it:

Card stock, designer paper, ribbon, stamp sets, wheels, and long envelopes (always needed for those over-sized cards that arrive without envelopes!)

 

Kari was our very first contributor to our cause, long before From Our Hearts officially became a not for profit.  She knew just what was needed, without any words spoken.

Since that time, many boxes have arrived from her - and as always, they contain just what is needed.

An angel, from Michigan, moved to send what is needed at just the right time.

This box is no exception.  Much of what she sent will be used at the card making event on February 6 and the new-in-package items are in the silent auction to help raise the much needed funds to help us to continue our operations - to purchase card stock for our volunteers in Kansas, supplies to ship the boxes and of course, the cost of mailing the 20 + boxes every month.

Kari's connection over the miles to From Our Hearts is unique; she is one more angel in our corner!

Samples and a Card Comes Full Circle

This month, the residents at the Heisinger Bluffs Retirement Home in Jefferson City stamped and created another 124 cards for our servicemen and women.  They do this faithfully, every month, contributing the card stock, paper, ribbon and their time and talent.

They include a personalized slip in with each card and even take the time to seal them in the clear envelopes so that they are ready for the boxes that day.

These miss you and best wishes cards are just a sampling of the several designs they made.

Thursday of this week, From Our Hearts received a very touching card and the return address was from a location we had not ever seen before, but then, our chaplain contacts do share the cards and we have many who travel and distribute them.

The card looked very familiar.  We look at each card that is donated to From Our Hearts before they are placed in the boxes and shipped over.  A second look at the card was all it took to realize why we knew it so well.

It was made by our seniors at Heisinger Bluffs this past fall.

Thankful, grateful, appreciative is the sentiment stamped on the front of the card that came full circle to From Our Hearts.

We share these cards and letters as they are not mean for just those of us at the home office, but for everyone who contributes to our cause, in every way.

This is what was written:

To Whom it may concern at "From Our Hearts"

Thank You.

I am stationed at FOB GARDEZ Afghanistan.  We do not have a PX or shops to buy cards like this for messages to send back to our family and friends.  I have a husband and daughter at home in the states.  It is a game for her to walk with Dad and check the mail.  I send my husband and daughter a card or letter a piece almost every day.  Just another way to try and keep your family strong during deployment.  I love your cards.  They were available for our troops at the USO.  Thank you so much for the time you put into making them and sending them to us.  Definitely a bright spot in the day.Thank you,

-signed by a Major US Army

Our cards touch many lives in so many ways.  And they are appreciated - as this officer puts it: "Definitely a bright spot in the day".  We are happy to be able to brighten up the lives of those who are serving our country in Iraq and Afghanistan and of course, their families, friends and loved ones who are waiting patiently back home for their safe return.

No More Cards Could Fit

Take a look at this box we received . . . it was bursting at the seams!  Perhaps the snapshot doesn't show it too well, but it was just packed so tightly, we don't think that Arlene could have put another card in it!

Arlene's note tells where they are from:

 

You may recognize her name as Arlene, from Rome, NY - she has contributed her works of art to us on numerous occasions.  She provides QUALITY handcrafted cards, and even solicits card fronts and takes the time to turn them into usable cards before sending them on to From Our Hearts!

Arlene created her own customized slip to include with her cards.  They arrived ready for the boxes - sorted, counted, bundled by type and in clear envelopes (with the slips!).  All we had to do was put them in their holding boxes until the next shipment.

We were especially pleased to see the Easter and St. Patrick's day cards arrive - they are scheduled to be shipped out this next month.

 

Her is a sampling of her cards.  Beautiful!

 

And of course, the St. Patty's cards:

 

And a bonus!  5 packages of pens - we'll send those along so our servicemen and women won't have an excuse to write home!!!

 
In total: 194 cards.  Wow!  And one of her helpers has a son deployed in Iraq.  We wonder if his chaplain is on our list?  We have 20, yes 20 contacts who are receiving our cards.  And each chaplain supports 600-800 troops.  One box holds 300 cards . . . (yes, we know we keep repeating this) . . .  One box per chaplain just isn't enough to reach all who need and want our cards!

It is through contributors such as Arlene who continue to send cards our way who help us to fill up the boxes every month.

And our many, many thanks to all who contribute cards, supplies and monetary donations to our cause who make this all possible.

A Box Of Sunshine Is Sent To From Our Hearts

From Our Hearts receives boxes on a daily basis, some decorated and some come to us just like this one, just a box addressed to us with a return address.  Little did we realize we were in for a big surprise when we opened it.

Lois B from Columbia, PA has been very, very busy creating 310 cards for From Our Hearts and take a look at the packaging!  Each type of card was sorted and placed in a handmade box - each made of different colors of card stock . . . it was like opening a box of sunshine on a cold Missouri morning!

Lois sent us an inventory of the box (thank you very much!!!).  And tucked in between the boxes was a small envelope with a cash donation to help ship them overseas.  This will help tremendously as we are now sending boxes to 20 different locations.

 

The cards are just a few that we took out of a few of the boxes.  Just beautiful, aren't they?  Lois made each and every one of them, matched them with an envelope and also had them ready to go as she sent them sealed in clear envelopes, too!

Her note to us says that she just loves making cards, and now has a "reason to make cards, after stumbling onto a blog "From Our Hearts" in December '09" and she is already working on her next box!

Wow!!!  Are we ever glad she found us.  Our servicemen and women are going to love her cards.

Our gratitude goes out to Lois and we are looking forward to her next box - 310 cards is ONE entire box that will go overseas!

And Lois made our day very, very sunny indeed!

A Single Mom Sends Our Cards Home Daily From Afghanistan

Another card received, this one from a PV2 from the National Guard Unit out of Joplin, MO - her name is Lisa.

She writes:

Dear 'From Our Hearts', my name is PV2 (last name) Lisa. I am in Afghanistan right now leaving behind a daughter (6 yrs in Jan) and another daughter (almost 9 mo.).  As a single mother you can imagine how hard this deployment has been on me so far.  I just want to let you know that I write them every day, sending each of them a cute card your group has made.  I love these cards & wanted to say thank you.

PS.  I also wanted to let you know that I have sent every soldier in my company a Christmas card (made by you) and I am also sending everyone birthday cards!  I just love all your cards so much, I decided to make sure every soldier gets one in the mail!  Thank you for all you do! -signed-

She wrote on the back of the envelope:  "Thanks to all the 'stampers' who make it all possible!

We are making so many of our soldier's lives brighter with just a simple, beautiful, handcrafted card.  The need for our cards is great.

Thank you, every one, who is making this possible.

Martie

American Legion Cards Up Close

Before these cards were placed in their appropriate boxes at the home office, a quick snapshot was taken of a few of them.  The ladies did a great job stamping and assembling these cards on January 16 (see Sunday's post for the FULL story!)

Patriotic, through and through, these miss you and thank you cards will be very well received in Iraq and Afghanistan.  They turned out quality cards!

And to our delight, this box of cards was handed to us that day:

95 handcrafted stamped by Mary M, just beautifully done.  She could not attend the card making event so sent the cards to us instead.  She even included a cash donation; we'll use this to purchase envelopes!

Several ladies also contributed funds to help with postage to ship the cards we made that day.

Our many, many thanks, for the support we have been given by the women (and men!) of American Legion Post 5 located in our home town of Jefferson City.

10 Year Old Evan Stamps for From Our Hearts

When Ann L from Oswego, Illinois e-mailed From Our Hearts to say that ANOTHER box was on its way, she said she had a little surprise for us.  Not only did Ann send us a box full of her own handcrafted cards (the box contained 166 cards, with envelopes and customized slips, too!!!)  . . .

 

There were Birthday, Congratulations, Valentines, Mothers's Day, Holiday and

All Occasion cards . . .

. . . all neatly listed out for us on a spreadsheet. . .

 

But our surprise was 25 St. Patrick's Day cards made by Evan, her 10 year old son!

 

Evan chose From Our Hearts as a community service project to earn his 100 Year Award for Cub Scouts.

Here is just one of the 25 cards Evan carefully made and his mom made him his own OWN customized slip to include with each card!

Ann sent us pictures of Evan making the cards:

 

Evan sure looks like he was having fun!

 

And here was the final result - 25 QUALITY cards:

Great job, Evan!  And congratulations to you on earning your award.  We thank you for choosing From Our Hearts as YOUR community service project!

American Legion Post 5 Auxiliary - Jefferson City MO STAMPS for From Our Hearts

The day finally arrived.  Saturday, January 16.  1 - 4 p.m.  From Our Hearts had coordinated this day of stamping with the Auxiliary at the request of Connie Pack.  The planning started in September of last year.

The plan:  make 225 cards.  The Auxiliary and the men of Post 5 graciously donated the funds to support this many cards, envelopes and clear envelopes.  (Hmmm . . . . . the planner that we are, we ALWAYS have a BACKUP! - more on that, later . . . )

We arrived early, set up for about 20 ladies.  And they arrived . . . even one with her infant in tow (and we never heard a peep the entire time!)

Instructions were given and the stamping began.

It was a full room of ladies of all ages.  Some ladies had never stamped before.  Others had years of experience and that was a bonus, as they helped those at their table.  Janice, pictured below on the right, is a Stampin' Up!® Independent Demonstrator and was a tremendous help.  (And Janice took it in stride when Martie called her Donna and Janet so many times that day!)

The theme of the cards made that day were patriotic - fitting, we thought, as these were American Legion Auxiliary ladies.  Miss you, thinking of you and congratulations cards began to appear.

And they had fun making them!  Holding stamping events to make cards for From Our Hearts is more than just making handcrafted cards.  It is a great way to give back to those who serve our country AND do a little bit of socializing, too!

 

Below, Connie is standing in the back, "supervising".  She was in charge of cutting up the customized slips we prepared especially for this event.

 

From Our Hearts had help from some local volunteers.  Do you recognize Donna P, in the white sweater?  She helped us with our Valentine Boxing Party and offered her assistance at this event.

 
And of course there is Diana, another Stampin' Up! demonstrator who drove 30 miles just to help teach these ladies how to stamp and who has helped us in the past:

And one more volunteer.  This is a special young lady whose name is Taylor.  She is 15 and an AVID troop supporter and advocate for From Our Hearts - do you see her leaning against the post?  Taylor took pictures, did the "running", helped set up and break down the event and was our "hands on" gal.  Without the help of our many dedicated volunteers, events such as these would not run as smoothly and of course, these ladies wouldn't be having as much fun!

Back to the 225 cards.  Did we say they MADE 225 cards?  No . . .  with the generous support of contributors nationwide, we were able to ADD to this and more cards were made.  We just knew that these ladies could make MORE than 225 cards.  We were prepared.

Credit must be given to our design volunteer, Kavi,  located in Hillsville, VA.  She designed, prepared, cut, and SENT everything to us - ready to stamp, including some of the stamps we used.  From Our Hearts provided the cardstock and paper - Kavi donated her time and effort - from HER heart!

And here are the cards (well, most of them . . . the ladies were still working on the green happy birthday cards when this shot was taken!)

 

And we weren't done, yet!  One more step - instructions were give by Martie on how to put the card, envelope and slip into the clear envelope.

 

And they began.  This many cards would normally take us one entire evening to do but with the work of so many hands, it was done in a flash!

The final count?

317 cards!

All in about 2 1/2 hours.

Amazing.

Amazing work.

Amazing ladies.

And they want to do this again.

We are honored to have their help and support of our effort.

Ladies,  we thank you, From the bottom of Our Hearts!  And we look forward to stamping with you again.

 

Kentucky, One More Pin on the Map for From Our Hearts

This box comes from Vine Grove, KY, and one special lady whose name is Margaret L. 

Inside, 40 cards and envelopes.  Just take a look at these cards:

Sometimes the most simple of design are the most effective - and we know that this card really isn't that simple to make.  Embossed background but a square left in the middle for stamping.  And there were several of this design.

This design was embossed - and this takes time to do.  Each card she sent was carefully crafted.  Margaret sent an assortment of cards, mostly Valentines, and some birthday and much needed thinking of you cards.

Margaret even enclosed our slip, cut up and ready to be placed in the clear envelope.  Our many, many thanks to Margaret for 40 smiles that she will be creating on 40 of our servicemen and women's faces and of course, on their loved ones and friends who receive her cards, back here in the USA!

Fed Ex Delivers Box From Tennessee

Usually we receive boxes via the good 'ole postal service.  Not this one:

Monika S from Collierville, TN sent this one by way of Fed Ex and we will just have to find out the name of our Fed Ex driver!  Just look at these beautiful cards she sent:

Well packaged so they arrived in GREAT shape,  she sorted them by type:  hello, happy birthday, "general blank" ones, etc... easy for us to put them in their appropriate "holding boxes", in wait until the next shipment goes over.

Her correspondence to us, prior to shipping this box says it better than we ever could:

"I found out about your site a few weeks ago.  Your mission has inspired me to go through my stock of cards and pare it down.  I even ordered card envelopes to protect the cards for their journey to our proud troops overseas. . . thank you for working this program."

Monika is a first time contributor and we appreciate the time and effort she went through by adding an envelope and placing them in a clear envelope so they are protected from day 1 of their journey - and yes, they will be well received by our proud troops overseas!!!

And it is our pleasure to be "working this program".  Our servicemen and women NEED our cards - as is proof by the many, many cards and letters of thanks we receive every week.  We will continue, until there is no longer a need . . .