Courage Cards

Making General Cards

General cards are cards that have a general uplifting message, rather than one specific to a hospital or season. These are cards that we distribute year-round each month, rather than during a specific time of year.  Contact us for information on creating Spanish Courage Cards.

Instructions for Making General Cards:

 
1. Gather up some supplies! 

You can make a card with simply crayons and paper, or you can gather a bunch of supplies. It is entirely up to you. You are welcome to use craft supplies, such as: stickers, stamps, etc., so long as the products are not excessive to the point of falling/rubbing off the card (this can create health concerns for some kids). This is especially important to keep in mind when using glitter. Every week, we receive cards with excessive amounts of glitter and are forced to throw those cards away.

Rubbing your finger across the glitter, stamp ink etc., to ensure that little to nothing rubs off, is typically a sufficient way to tell whether the product is excessive.

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, here are some suggestions:

  • “Hey there”
  • “Hey you!”
  • “To: a very special person”
3. Writing on the front/inside of the card 

At the request of hospitals, we ask you not to write “Get well”, “Feel Better” or other illness related comments. We prefer to focus on the child as a whole, rather than their illness. Some of the kids that receive our cards suffer from chronic, life-threatening and/or terminal conditions. Some may also be facing uncertainty regarding their treatment and diagnosis. This is why it is important to write uplifting messages.

Below are some recommended uplifting messages:

  • Stay strong
  • You are awesome
  • Never forget how amazing you are
  • Stay strong
  • You rock
  • You inspire me
  • Be brave
  • I hope you have a great day
  • I believe in you

These messages focus on the child as a whole, rather than their illness. You can also come up with your own uplifting comments. If you want us to review your comments, feel free to contact us.
 

4. Make sure that you do not…

– Include any personal information, such as: phone number, address, email address etc. 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 allow us to distribute cards with these comments. Hospitals treat patients of all religions as well as patients that do not practice religion.

5. Sign your name:

Now, sign your first name on the card. (Please do not sign your last name).If you wish to, you can also sign your state, such as “Katie from Nebraska”, or organization such as “Girl Scout Troop # 777” or “Ann Marie from UBS in Washington DC”.

6. Lastly, mail out the cards:

Zach’s Toy Chest
PO Box 1013
Holly Springs, NC 27540

Request a courage card for a child

In addition to distributing cards in hospitals, we can also send cards to hospitalized and/or seriously sick kids that are referred to us via the form below. All information sent to us will remain confidential. Once the child is referred to us, a card will be sent to them within a few days. If you have any questions, please contact us via the form below.