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CFHK distributes general cards to Children's Hospitals and Ronald McDonald Houses (RMH) each month in all 50 states in addition to holiday cards for major holidays. General cards have a general, uplifting theme and message, rather a holiday or seasonal one.
The guidelines for making general cards can be found below. These were established in conjunction with Certified Child Life Specialists at several of our partner hospitals. While receiving a card may seem simple, it is truly impactful for hospitalized kids and their families. Photos and stories of card-receiving patients can be found here as well as on our social media platforms. |
1. Gathering Supplies:
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What supplies are necessary?
The only supplies you need are paper and a writing utensil, such as crayons, markers etc.
People often choose to use additional supplies, but it is entirely up to you. |
What are the supplies I can use?
You can use any craft or art supplies you wish, so long as the rule on the right is followed. Often, individuals & groups choose to use other craft supplies such as:
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What are the supplies I can't use?
The only rule regarding craft supplies is that nothing is excessive to the point of falling off. This is extremely important, as it can create health concerns for some patients. This is especially true for glitter.
To see if this is an issue, we suggest just running your finger over the area to see how much rubs off. If little or no glitter / product comes off, it is OK. |
2. Addressing the Card:
Since we do not yet know the child's name, please make sure you do not address the card to a specific person. If you want to address the card, or writing within the card, here are some suggestions:
- "Hey There"
- "Hey You!"
- "To: A Very Special Person"
3. Writing on the Front / Inside of the Card:
We recommend writing uplifting messages on the front and inside of the card. At the request of hospitals, we ask that you please not write "Get well", "Feel Better" or other illness related comments. This is very important since some of the kids suffer from medical conditions that are chronic, life-threatening and/or terminal. Some of the patients may also be facing uncertainty regarding their treatment and diagnosis. This is why it is important to write uplifting messages rather than "Get Well" or other illness focused comments. We suggest uplifting messages that focus on the child as a whole, rather than their illness, such as:
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These messages focus on the child as a whole, rather than their illness, which is important, according to Child Life Specialists.
You can also come up with your own uplifting comments. If you want the CFHK team to review your comments, feel free to contact us. People often choose to include characters or themes (minions, Disney characters, animals, sports, etc), on the front or inside of the cards. These types of cards are extremely popular with kids, and always a great option!
You can also come up with your own uplifting comments. If you want the CFHK team to review your comments, feel free to contact us. People often choose to include characters or themes (minions, Disney characters, animals, sports, etc), on the front or inside of the cards. These types of cards are extremely popular with kids, and always a great option!
4. Make sure that you do not......
- Include any personal information such as social media accounts, email, phone number, etc. Other than signing your first name, please do not include any personal information. Hospitals will not allow us to distribute cards with this information.
- Write any religious comments such as "God Bless" or "I'm praying for you". Hospitals do not allows us to distribute cards with these comments. Hospitals treat patients of all religions as well as patients that do not practice religion, which is why they do not allow us to give out cards containing religious comments
- Write any religious comments such as "God Bless" or "I'm praying for you". Hospitals do not allows us to distribute cards with these comments. Hospitals treat patients of all religions as well as patients that do not practice religion, which is why they do not allow us to give out cards containing religious comments
5. Sign your name:
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Now, sign your first name on the card. If you'd like, you can also include your state in your signature. Additionally, you can also sign your group name If you are making cards as part of a group (such as a student group, team, company, etc,), such as:
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6. Mail the cards to CFHK:
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Lastly, you can mail the cards to CFHK for distribution to Children's Hospitals and Ronald McDonald Houses nationwide. Here is the address:
Cards for Hospitalized Kids 7290 W. Devon Chicago, IL 60631 After your cards have been received, processed and distributed, you'll receive a thank-you note in the mail. |
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Please consider sharing a photo of your card-making on Social Media + tag CFHK. While it may seem simple, this engagement is also impactful because social media is the #1 way people learn of CFHK prior to getting involved. To see examples of posts by other supporters, visit the Social Media Engagement section.
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