Many scrapbookers know that repurposing holiday cards is a real money saver, but did you know you can earn cash by recycling your old Christmas greetings?
Actually, you can help those less fortunate when you donate your seasonal salutations to certain charitable groups. For example, St. Jude’s Ranch for Children is synonymous for its work collecting used Christmas cards and transforming them into works of art which are then sold to generate money for the group.
The non-profit accepts used Christmas cards until the end of February, then it hands them over to its benefactors–children who come from abusive homes—-and they attach new backs to the recycled fronts and receive payment for their efforts. The new cards are then sold to raise money for the charity. Your donation of old holiday greetings allows the kids to learn the value of hard work and the benefits of recycling.
Another group that makes money from used Christmas cards is American Forests. The charitable group recycles the paper cards and uses the money to expand its environmental awareness programs. You can donate your old cards to American Forest by dropping them off at select Fresh and Easy grocery stores located in California, Nevada and Arizona.
While they may not be charitable organizations, some prisons also collect used holiday cards, which inmates refurbish in order to make money. It’s up to you to decide whether you want to donate your cards to a children’s charity or rehabilitating inmates. However, regardless of which group gets your donation, be sure to assess your cards before you hand them over. Greetings with sexually explicit content or crass jokes are not appropriate to donate. In addition, if the cards contain personal information about loved ones, you should think twice before passing them on as a donation. Instead, consider giving simple, yet traditional cards that can be easily refurbished and appreciated by a large segment of the population.