I'm teaching a group of 4th graders on Thursday morning at Harrisburg Elementary, and I wanted to create a blog post to help me explain the process of shipping the cards to our Military Heroes. Pictures ARE worth a thousand words!
I get my Operation Write Home Mail at The UPS Store less than a mile from my house. I live on a driveway with a gate at the end, and the mail can't be left beside the road. It might get wet or stolen. When boxes come to my street address, USPS leaves a card, and I have to pick up the package the next day. I'd have to drive into town every day to pick up my mail, and that's over 4 miles and a big headache.
The ladies at The UPS Store are terrific! They enjoy laughing at me when I go in the back to collect a tower of packages. Thank you, Yanti, Diane, Mel, and Marti!
Here's a picture of one day's "haul" of packages. I open the packages, collect the packing slip, and triage the cards.
If the cards are "good-to-go" I sort them into these boxes. Some cards need to have "Operation Write Home" stamped on the back and some need to be tucked into envelopes before they land in the sorting boxes. Unfortunately, there are cards that land in the "Card Hospital." They'll need a little TLC.
These boxes are taped and ready to go. Not only do I ship cards in them, I use them to temporarily hold bundles of cards.
These boxes hold bundles of cards, divided by theme. They are ready to be packed. I put them on the stairs, out of the way until I need them. They won't be here long. In fact, most of the cards in these boxes are already on their way!
Inside the box. I can quickly grab what I need!
These 6 boxes are packed with 300 cards!
Here you can see the bundles of cards sorted by theme. Our Heroes will be able to quickly find a card.
On top of the 300 cards, I layer larger cards.
Here, I've added a package of Hero Mail and the Sunday comics.
The last item to go in the box is a card from me to the contact who will receive the cards and share them with his/her unit.
Next stop is the Post Office! No, Clyde, you can't go this time!
Thank you for posting this. Do you have help, especially getting ready for the holiday seasons?
ReplyDeleteW0W! What a visual! I am tired now. But I hope my 1st box was done correctly to save you time & sorting.
ReplyDeleteTotally with you on going to 'town'. It is 3.5 miles JUST to hit a road going into town here, which doesn't have much, and then over 1 hour to the Walmart & stuff. Lucky here though, we have a 'school bus stop house' we built with a dutch door front & door in back going into the fenced yard.(We cut fence & built it in) All my delivery peeps, know they can leave stuff in the stop and it is safe & dry.
Thanks for showing us what you do! Poor Clyde!
Hummer Hugs,
Misty
http://deliteful-gifts.blogspot.com/
hummingbird204 at comcast dot net
What a great post Dixie. I am so appreciative of all you do as MY shipper and thank you for making it possible for me to be a part of such a wonderful group. You're the best!
ReplyDeleteWow, Dixie...what a wonderful presentation that tells the true story of all the hard work you shippers voluntarily do....and the huge amounts of donated handmade cards that add to your load.
ReplyDeleteThanks, thanks, thanks to the whole team!
Excellent post! I love how you organize everything. Thank you for continuing to be the East Coast Shipper!
ReplyDeletePoor Clyde! I hope he at least got a dog biscuit for having to stay behind!
What a great post, Dixie! I laughed out loud where you said you put the boxes on the steps, out of the way! Ha ha! What do you do when you want to use the steps!!!! Thanks for all your hard work and give Clyde a kiss on the lips for me!
ReplyDeleteWOW...what a set up you have, Thank you for all your hard work, I'd never be able to do that all and just want to make sure you know that it's well appreciated.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dixie, for the cool show and tell!! T!!hat's a lot of work to do. I'll remember to tuck and stamp my cards
ReplyDelete