Your Guide to Holiday Cards that Give Back

Every day until Christmas Eve, Rochester Patch is past your front porch to people and organizations across the area. Have a local cause or nonprofit you'd like us to write about? Tell us in the comments or send an email to kristin.bull@patch.com.

Day 3: Holiday Cards for a Cause

With texting, Tweeting and a slew of other technologically savvy ways to stay in contact with friends and family, communication via "snail" mail has certainly plundered.

But during the holidays, instead of sending a text or eGreeting, take the time to send a Christmas card to everyone you care about – and help out a charity while you’re at it.

Hundreds of national charities, and many local ones as well, offer a variety of holiday card options to choose from. By purchasing cards through the nonprofits, some (or all) of the funds go to the good cause.

Search online at www.cardsthatgive.org for hundreds of ways to give back with greeting cards. Here are a few ideas:

• Michigan Humane Society: This year the MHS is selling a box of 15 holiday cards, plus envelopes, for $12.95. The inside of these greeting cards feature a dog and two cats peering outside of a home. The message: “There’s no place like home for the holidays.” Proceeds from the cards will benefit animals in need. Cards can be purchased by phone at (800) 866-9189 or online at www.shopmichiganhumane.org. They can also be found for sale at the three MHS adoption centers in , Detroit and Westland.
• Make-A-Wish Foundation of Michigan: Cards designed by wish children are available online at the organization's store. They are $10 for a package of 10.
• Forgotten Harvest: A handful of simply pretty cards are available through Forgotten Harvest this holiday season. Last year the proceeds from cards allowed for the rescue of 23.2 million pounds of food to aid Metro Detroit citizens in need. Packs of 20 cards are available at www.forgottenharvest.com for $25 per pack plus $3 shipping.
• American Cancer Society: If you like options, the ACS has a big greeting card selection for the season and other celebrations throughout the year. From cute penguins wrapped in pink ribbon-shaped scarves, to personalized photo cards; their selection is sure to bring holiday cheer. Cards start at $20 for 16 and go up in both price and quantity. For more information on ACS greeting cards visit www.acsholidaycollection.org.

More ways to give back this season:

Coming tomorrow: "Kicks for a Cause" shoe drive in downtown Rochester.