Monday, November 7, 2016

Current Needs and Updated Guidelines

Before we know it, Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here! All of the volunteers listed on the Contact Us page are currently in need of winter and holiday cards for the kids in the hospitals they serve. We would like all the kids to receive a holiday card and to also be able to choose some to send to family or friends they are missing. The suggested deadline is early December so the volunteers have time to check, label, box and mail the cards to the hospitals in time.

As for other types of cards, please keep in mind the numbers of kids needing birthday or any day cards just isn't the hundreds you may have sent in for OWH. I have added this paragraph to the Guidelines:

**Please know that we appreciate all the cards sent in, but do not have the need for hundreds of cards from any individual card maker. Holiday cards are always in demand, but as for the other categories, please make your cards unique and think "Quality over Quantity." Our volunteers have asked that you check your cards to be sure they are sturdy and clean  of all adhesive marks and that all card elements (such as sequins or ribbons) are securely attached. Please line the insides of all darker colored cards. We are working to fulfill as many hospital requests as possible while ensuring the cards are in great shape when given to one of our special kids.**

After Christmas we will need Valentines and Spring cards such as Easter, Mother's and Father's Day. Please keep older boys and girls in mind, too, as you design your cards. 

Thank you so much for all you do to put smiles on our kids' faces!

Karen SAS4Kids

Friday, May 13, 2016

Exciting News and Updates- See September Edit

We are thrilled today to announce SAS4Kids is continuing to grow and we are adding one new volunteer who will be delivering your cards to kids who are inpatient in another children's hospital! I was contacted recently by Barb MacAskill and she wanted to volunteer to receive cards for the University of Vermont Children's Hospital in Burlington, Vermont. This is what she shared with me:


"As a child I had cancer twice and was treated by the amazing staff at the hospital. All of the nurses and doctors were wonderful and I still keep in touch with some of them over 35 years later. Most of the staff attended my wedding and my doctor is my son's godfather." 

Here is Barb's address:

SAS4Kids C/O
Barbara MacAskill
187 Erskine Road
Williamstown, VT 05679

**EDITED TO ADD 9/25/16: Barb has not been well and has been unable to acknowledge receipt of the boxes you may have sent. Please do not -at this time- mail her any more boxes of cards until we post another update. All cards that have been sent to her are greatly appreciated and will be delivered in October to the kids at her hospital.**

Barb is ready to start receiving cards from our wonderful donors right away. Currently all our volunteers (except LeeAnn- see note in the last blogpost), are looking for Father's Day cards if you can send in the next few weeks. Otherwise, there is always a need for everyday cheer, thank yous, birthday and all holidays. Please keep the older kids in mind when designing cards too. Even if there is not a current update here or on the side, please keep sending in your handmade cards for our kids. We do update the challenge side every week and the cards the design team makes are good examples of the types of cards we would love to receive for our kids.

Welcome Barb! And as always, thanks to all of our awesome card making donors!

Stamping Smiles 4 our Kids, Karen