CHARITY NOT CARDS
Hello to everyone reading this. My name is Chris Pesqueira. I'd ask that you please take the time to read this excerpt, as I believe it concerns a lot of people, and can make a big impact. I ask that you please, please, please forward this site to everyone and anyone that you know. The more you link it, the better. The more that this message spreads, the better. I started this website for the sole purpose of putting forth this idea. It is not for any kind of personal or financial gain. I am not asking for anything personally, nor do you have to give anything here. If you choose to post an account of your experience, feel free to. This site is just the beacon for information, not for a bevy of transactions. I have kept it simple, because the message is very clear and extremely simple. I came up with this idea a couple of years ago. If you have any suggestions on how to make it better, please contact me. Without further ado:
I figured since it's the holiday season, I would put forth an idea that I thought up a couple of years ago. Within my nuclear family, every year I would buy a Christmas card for my mother, father, brother, grandmother, and uncle. This is five cards multiplied by the ridiculous price that cards go for (between 3-4 dollars usually now). Take into account that the other 5 people on the list would buy cards for the remaining 5 people other than themselves. So basically you had almost 30 cards being purchased at 3-4 dollars a clip (roughly $100 or so total).
What are cards really? They are other people's words, on paper, that YOU PAY FOR! What I started doing was saying to the other five members of my family: "You know I love you, and I know you throw the cards out after Christmas. Why don't we do something better with the money?" So, for the past couple of years we have been collecting $25 from each of us that would have covered the cost of cards. This ends up being a total of $150. I then take the $150 and donate it to a charity. My feelings on the matter are: Why should card companies be getting money, when it could be helping less fortunate families?
If at all possible, I encourage anyone who'd like to participate to do the same thing. For all of you reading, it makes you look generous and caring to your family too... so it might up your gift ante... lol! If you have 3 or 5 or 7 or however many very close family members, start tonight and write one or two, etc. of them a few sentences from your heart about what they mean to you in the holiday season. When you are finished, hand them what you have written. I guarantee mothers especially will really take to the cause and love what they receive. Because, trust me, after receiving cards with "This Christmas Season reminds us of the holiday joy you sprinkle into our life" (words no one I know on this Earth would ever speak to another human) on them, I fully realized that cards are a complete crock. I honestly feel that they are one of the biggest scams being perpetrated on the public. So speak from your hearts, and make up some nice computer printed cards with your OWN words. Let's give the money to charity instead of Big Card (my own term for the card industry, a la Big Tobacco).
I know some people will think that this is lame, but if even say 5 or 10 people do this, that's a potential THOUSAND dollars to charity. It will be well worth it. Think of the less fortunate this year. I'll certainly applaud anyone brave enough to spread this around their schools, jobs, etc. Maybe you can privately show a teacher or administrator or manager or co-worker the idea, and they can present it, so you don't feel like it's on you.
When I came up with this idea, at first I thought it was great for the laziness aspect. I hated picking out cards with three women leaning over me trying to get the best envelope or something ludicrous like that. Combine that with the benevolence aspect, and it's a great holiday thought. Good luck to everyone, and please let me know how it goes.
Thank you for taking the time to read this!
God Bless you all and have a great holiday season!
Chris
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