Have you ever asked a question, and been astounded at what came of it?
In 2007, Sandy heard a radio story about a Texas woman who had sent 1,000 cards to her deployed son's unit. That seemed like a mighty nice way to get rid of the cards gathering around her own craft room, so she went to a message board to ask some friends about it.
It seemed that someone should have an organization like this already. It was too obvious. Her friends didn't know of an org, but one Soldier, a nurse stationed at a Combat Support Hospital in Baghdad, Iraq, replied.
"Hi. I lurk here whenever I have access to a computer. I can tell you we would love to have home made cards to send to loved ones for the holidays. I miss my stamping and scrapbooking supplies. It means so much that people take time out of their busy schedules. I will be a point of contact."
The friends on that message board started collecting their cards, sending boxes, and soon had to find more contacts, due to the number of cards coming in. Others helped in processing and shipping cards, Sandy kept the shipping bills funded, and eventually the first website was developed under the name CardsforHeroes.org. Growth quickly took over, and the upward curve of the project only steepened as more people heard about it and wanted to help.
In 2008, a board of directors was formed, and the process began; by September 12, 2008, it was official. An organization was born with registration as a nonprofit corporation. In the coming year, the 501(c)(3) application was submitted, and the board waited anxiously for approval. While waiting, it became clear that more changes were ahead, including a name change for the organization. September 12, 2009, the name became Operation Write Home, and on the 17th the final approval as a 501(c)(3) came through!
The trajectory of the project has all of us amazed...and we are all so grateful to everyone whose cards and financial gifts make all of it possible!