As I discussed in more detail in my article about what to do with old Christmas cards you really have three choices: 1 declutter them which could include throwing them in the recycling bin, not the trash ; 2 upcycle or make paper crafts with them; or 3 donate them.
I was personally surprised to find out there was a charity that accepted these used holiday cards, so once I found out I definitely wanted to pass along this information. Please note that these places will accept donations of more than just Christmas cards. They all would like and appreciate get well, birthday, thank you, and other similar cards as well. I just know most of us accumulate the majority of our cards at the end of the Christmas holidays.
Jude's Ranch for Children is a charity which cares for abused, abandoned and neglected children. Basically, they take your used cards and make new ones out of them which they then sell. You can learn more about the program here. Only the front of the card is used, so any donated cards must not have writing on the back of that donated front picture. Contact correctional facilities in your area to find out if they accept donations of used holiday cards.
Schools often collect used greeting cards to use for craft projects and other purposes. For example, the front panels of used Christmas cards can be used for making bookmarks for the children. Check with schools in your local community to see if they have a similar donation opportunity. Charitable organizations that work with children, such as after-school programs or day care centers, often accept donated craft supplies. Since there are a number of great, kid-friendly arts and crafts projects , you may find one or more groups like this in your area that will be happy to accept old Christmas cards you wish to donate.
Senior care facilities such as nursing homes, assisted living communities, and adult day care centers often accept donations of these types of cards to use in their recreational therapy programs. Contact these types of facilities in your community and speak to the staff member in charge of recreational therapy.
Ask if they accept donated materials to use in craft projects with their clients. If so, find out if they accept Christmas cards to use for this purpose. You will want to review the submission guidelines to ensure the cards are appropriate for the cause.
For example, cards that are overly crass or adult in nature are probably not ideal for St. Jude's, while ones with cartoons jabbing prisoners or alcoholics will not be suitable for rehab centers. Instead, try to stick with classy, traditional looking cards that any recipient will enjoy.
Only make donations if they are currently being accepted. You will need to verify this information before donating via the group's website, social media presence or placing a phone call. Otherwise, the charity may become overwhelmed and eventually toss them out. Always do your research before mailing off your cards.
View Natural Collection's eco-friendly products here. It's made from about plastic bottles! Find out more. Visit the Woodland Trust's website. Save used stamps for animal charities. Details on where to find your nearest household recycling centre can be found on the website of your local council.
Alternatively, Recycle Now also has a tool for this — just punch in your postcode to find your nearest recycling locations. Log In. Contact us Sign up for newsletters. Log In Register now My account. Christmas Can you recycle Christmas cards?
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