SALISBURY — The “Cards for a Cause” campaign has become a holiday season tradition at Rowan Public Library. Since the program began in 2015, the number of cards delivered to service members and veterans of the United States Armed Forces has steadily increased, and this year, 6,779 cards were sent, which is about 1,500 more than last year.

The community had a few different options for participating in Cards for a Cause. Anyone could visit an RPL branch and create cards using the library’s tables of blank cards and decorating materials. Some folks preferred to create, print or purchase cards of their own to use.

As always, the campaign began in October and ran through early December, and patrons could designate their cards’ destinations: to current service members in the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard and National Guard, or to veterans at the W.G. Hefner VA Medical Center. This year, cards were also delivered to Rowan County Veterans Services and Cabarrus County Veterans Services offices.

There are different submission deadlines during the campaign to accommodate international and Stateside deliveries, and in the past, some cards have traveled as far as Afghanistan. Throughout the campaign, RPL staff routinely sort the cards and arrange delivery to the respective recruiting offices; the offices then forward the cards on to service members. RPL staff deliver cards designated for veterans to the VAMC in Salisbury. 

Some of the largest card returns came from community schools and educational organizations. Crosby Scholars completed over 600 cards, and South Rowan High School students spent a morning at RPL South completing another 300 as part of an effort to volunteer and give back to the community. 

“The generosity and the well-meaning citizens of our community touched me in a deep way, just as much as knowing these cards are going to men and women who may or may not have anyone else during the holidays,” Dinkins said. “It was really moving to read the cards and hear from people who wanted to participate.” 

In its first year, Cards for a Cause collected approximately 230 cards for active service members of the United States Armed Forces. In 2016, more than 800 were collected, and cards were also submitted specifically for veterans, so in 2017, the campaign expanded to include the VAMC, and collected over 1,300 cards. In 2018, that total grew by 100, and then in 2019, the National Guard was added, and 2,165 cards were sent. Since then, the program has seen a steady increase in the number of cards made for veterans and service members each year.

Initially, the goal for the number of signed cards collected in 2023 was 5,500 — just a little more than the number of cards collected in 2022, which was 5,260.

“We thought 5,500 might be too ambitious since this was my and Kim’s first time organizing the program at East Branch,” said Sydney Smith Hamrick, RPL East Branch supervisor.

The previous Cards for a Cause Coordinator, Tammie Foster, retired from RPL during the past year, passing the program on to the current East Branch staff.

“The local community really showed up this year, and that original goal we thought might be ‘too much’ was shattered — we were shocked and overjoyed,” Hamrick said.

Cards for a Cause is a program that thrives because of community engagement, and Hamrick gives credit to Dinkins for making lots of community connections as the new coordinator. Both Hamrick and Dinkins extend big thanks to Foster, the previous coordinator, for volunteering her time and valuable advice to help make the program a success once again.

This year’s community organization participants included South Rowan High School, Crosby Scholars, Faith Academy, Rockwell Social Club, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, J. Fred Corriher, Jr. YMCA, J. F. Hurley Family YMCA, West Rowan Elementary School, the Royal Priesthood Biker Church of Shelby and A.L. Brown High School.

The 2024 campaign will officially begin in October. For more information about how you can participate or support this annual program, contact Kim Dinkins at Kim.Dinkins@rowancountync.gov.