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Handmade Valentine’s Cards and Goodies for Dell’s Children’s Hospital

Living Direct ended 2010 with an extremely successful Adopt-A-Family event that truly helped to bring so many people here together to "Act As One," one of our company's initiatives.  With the New Year we were excited to organize our next event and wanted to focus on giving back to children.

Located in Austin is Dell's Children's Hospital.

Dell's Children's Hospital

We organized an activity of making handmade Valentine’s cards and goodie bags for children who are long term patients.  It was  a lot of fun for the people who participated here but we hope it also helped to brighten up their  Valentine's Day.

We received an overwhelming amount of donations, goodies and volunteering to make handmade cards.  A craft station was set up in our break room a.k.a “our Ping Pong Lounge,” where employees could come freely and make cards during lunches and breaks.

We were reliving Kindergarten all over again; there was construction paper, scrapbooking scissors/stencils, glitter pens and even stickers!  It was a blast. Many were caught grinning from ear to ear and some people got really into it.  We were just glad so many people wanted to help and donate time not just money.

Here are some funny lines from the cards made:

"You are an Island of Awesome in an Ocean of Love"

"Hoppy Valentine's Day" - Bunny Card

"Have a Magical Valentine's Day" - Unicorn Card

"Have a Roarin' Day!" - Lion Card

"Hope you have a Berry Happy Valentine's Day, you are Pearfect" - Strawberry and Pear Couple in Love Card

Our volunteers ranged all the way from our Call Center to Marketing to Purchasing to Executives.  We even got a surprise guest contributor: the daughter of the owner of Living Direct.  Not only did our volunteers contribute their efforts but they ended up putting so much time and creativity into them that they gave Hallmark a run for their money.  Our goal was 50 cards/goodie bags; we not only met but exceeded our goal.

A delivery was made on Valentines Day by the Philanthropic Committee, it will be remembered as one of our favorite and most rewarding events!  Next year - 100 cards!

This is a guest post from Carly Pringle, Online Channel Marketing Analyst, and Linda Kiefer, Import Product Manager. Carly and Linda, along with Kelly Wilson, Accounts Payable, make up the Philanthropic Committee and help organize all of our charity initiatives, big and small.