A private Facebook group with more than 8,600 members is doing its part to preserve a tradition that might seem out of step in the digital age: mailing greeting cards.
The group, called Random Acts of Cardness, allows members to post greeting card requests for themselves or others, such as a co-worker dealing with an illness or a loss, or a friend celebrating a birthday or anniversary.
Other members then respond to the requests by mailing cards to strangers to provide them with a pick-me-up.
“We are entirely a volunteer organization, and everybody is welcome to join,” said Megan Evans, a Wickliffe, OH, resident who started Random Acts of Cardness after her own spirits were lifted by greeting cards while recovering from a serious illness in 2015.
The group has more than doubled in size since 2021. Evans estimates 30 to 40 people join Random Acts of Cardness each day.
In addition to providing a place for people to request greeting cards, the group organizes activities, including a drive that resulted in more than 700 cards being mailed to members of the military during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The group’s success is another sign of greeting cards’ enduring appeal.
Americans purchase approximately 6.5 billion greeting cards each year, with annual retail sales estimated between $7 billion and $8 billion, according to the Greeting Card Association.
Because Random Acts of Cardness is a private Facebook group, the greeting card requests are not available to the public.
There is no cost to join the group, although members must pay for their own cards and postage. However, Random Acts of Cardness collects donations of cards, stamps and stationery for financially strapped members.
The membership includes more than a few mail enthusiasts.
D’Anne Olson, a retail associate at the Adena, OH, Post Office, joined Random Acts of Cardness a few years ago and said she appreciates how the organization inspires people to use the mail.
“It’s amazing. Today alone, I received eight cards in the mail,” she said.
Evans said she appreciates the important role USPS plays in the group’s efforts.
“We truly could not exist without the Postal Service. Our cards are delivered by men and women in blue and they are invaluable beyond measure,” she said.
