Ohio Woman's Card Group Reaches 37 Countries

Megan Evans knows firsthand how powerful a handwritten card can be when life gets hard.

A year after surviving a car crash that left her with a traumatic brain injury, the Wickliffe, Ohio resident spent months relearning how to walk and talk. While stamping envelopes for kids at the local Ronald McDonald House during her recovery, a thought struck her: she wished she'd received more cards like these during her darkest days.

That wish wouldn't let go. Megan took to Facebook with a simple question: why do card campaigns only target sick kids and seniors? What about everyone else who needs a reminder that someone is thinking of them?

She launched Random Acts of Cardness, a Facebook group where members could share names of friends and relatives who might appreciate a kind note. The response flooded in immediately.

Members started nominating everyone from cousins with sick children to neighbors celebrating milestone anniversaries. Card lovers who rarely had the chance to send greetings suddenly had endless opportunities to brighten someone's day.

Postal worker D'Anne Olson joined after noticing one customer's mailbox kept filling with greeting cards. She discovered the recipient had been nominated by the group and decided to become a sender herself.

Sandy Hainlen has mailed thousands of cards to friends and strangers through the group. After signing each one, she uses a special hole punch to notch a heart shape into the paper and saves the tiny hearts in a jar as a reminder of all the smiles she's put in the mail.

Sunny's Take

What started as one woman's wish has grown into an army of 12,000 card warriors. They've sent handwritten notes to all 50 states and 37 countries around the world.

Megan herself mails over 100 cards every month. She even received a surprise card from her friend Rene with the simple inscription: I'm thinking of you.

The group has created friendships across continents among people who share a love of spreading joy through the mail. Members call themselves one big family, connected by the belief that everyone deserves to know they aren't alone.

In a digital world, Megan's movement proves that something touched by human hands and sent with love still matters deeply.