MAR 19, 2019 – Who are the most caring people you know? And what is it they do that brings them immediately to mind?

This card was written by Cardie Candy Clausell, who is a Miami Beach buddy of mine and, herself, caring personified. For years I’d noticed this fit woman walking miles up and down the shore each evening, carrying a bag for all the litter she picks up along the way. I finally met her soon after she returned from the Women’s March on Washington in Jan of ‘17. Candy cared so much that she’d flown up to D.C. on her own, and carried a big backpack filled with dried fruit and trail mix for anyone who might need a little sustenance that long, chilly day. As I came to know her, I learned this retiree spends every Wednesday cleaning cages at the Pelican Rescue.

Candy is caring through-and-through. And we happen to know some others who are, too: You! Many of you heeded our recent call to stock up on cards as we’d donate half the proceeds to Venezuelan aid. Well, your caring made it possible for $3,000 to go to feed families in dire straits. Thank you! We were especially touched that Cardie Gloria Dougherty — who inspired our Please Listen campaign — sent $100 directly to us in our beautiful new “Never Underestimate the Difference You Make” card. That meant a lot.

Last week, as I was putting together another box of food headed to Venezuela, I ordered some local grocery items to be delivered by the time-saving shopping service I use. Shopper Avi is by-now an old hand at helping me put together these care packages, looking out for the best-priced dried soups and powdered milk, etc., texting me as he shops to make sure we’re on the same page. This time I sent a text asking him to grab any BIG box the grocery had around to pack the lighter items like toilet paper. At check-out, he wrote that he would arrive a little later than expected because he needed to make another quick stop. When he arrived, I noted the clean, new box in his hand. “Avi,” I asked, “Did you devote time you will not be paid for to go out of your way to purchase this shipping box with your own money for people you do not know?!” He blushed and said, “Publix had already crushed all theirs.” And to my, “Thank you!” he beautifully said, “We do what we can do.”

Thank you as always, Cardies, for doing what you can do. Below you’ll see a few designs meant to simply acknowledge caring people like you.

~ jodee stevens
founder & chief creative