Redlands Christian Migrant Association

No, it’s not a typo. Redlands Christian Migrant Association receives 680% of the price of its holiday cards to help children of migrant farm workers in Florida.

For every $15 set of cards, RCMA receives $6.45 after production costs. State and federal sources then match that $6.45 sixteen to one. So a $15 card purchase results in $103.20 for RCMA.

The largest non-profit child-care provider in Florida, RCMA provides quality child care and early education for nearly 8,000 children of migrant farm workers and rural, low-income families throughout the state. More than 2,000 children are on waiting lists.

Anne

New eCards Section

We’ll be adding more eCards to our site in the coming weeks. Visitors have been asking for virtual cards, but at first it seemed that including them might draw supporters away from the traditional cards that provide more income to non-profits.

I suspect, though, that the two distinct types of cards might appeal to different audiences. And while the free eCards don’t create immediate income, they spread information and awareness, which is valuable, too.

We’ll keep in touch with the non-profits and see what happens.

Anne

Perkins School for the Blind

Our newest non-profit is the Perkins School for the Blind, which was founded in 1829 and was the nation’s first school for the visually impaired.

Perkins students created the three card designs by cutting textured fabrics into holiday shapes. The cards also include the artists' comments about their designs. Here are 12-year-old Rose Ellen Moynihan’s thoughts about the snowflakes she created: “Snowflakes are frosty covered rain. They are quiet, different, and very pretty.”

Eight-five percent of the card price is used to support Perkins' educational programs.

Anne

100% Recycled Cards

A new feature: an icon that marks the cards printed on 100% recycled stock. I hadn't expected that only five of the more than 100 charities on our site would receive this icon: Project Bread - The Walk for Hunger, Marine Mammal Center, Farm Sanctuary, Wilderness Committee, and National Arbor Day Foundation. We'll watch for others.

Other cards on the site are partially recycled. Heal the Bay, for example, uses paper that is "50% recycled, 30% post-consumer waste, elemental chlorine free, and manufactured with 100% renewable energy offsets."

A few non-profits use stock that, while not recycled, has been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). This means that the paper comes from managed forests with criteria for tree replanting, habitat preservation, elimination of illegal logging, and other practices. Chicago Lights and the Courage Center, for example, use FSC-certified stock.

Still other organizations include a few recycled cards among their card offerings.

So the 100% recycled icon doesn't cover all environmentally-friendly options, but we hope you find it helpful.

Anne