Card saver wants to recycle years’ worth of them

Dear Heloise: A while ago, I read in your column about a person writing to ask where she can dispose of greeting cards (birthday, anniversary, Easter, Christmas, etc.).

I have quite a few cards that I have been saving for a period of years. Now it’s time to get rid of them. Any suggestions? R.B. in Colorado

Do we have good news for you! The St. Jude’s Ranch for Children is again accepting all types of greeting card fronts only (without writing on them). They are then trimmed to fit a 5-by-7-inch card back and are attached to a new blank card. The recycled cards are then sold, with all proceeds going directly back to the abused, abandoned and neglected children at the three ranches. Card fronts can be mailed to: St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, 100 St. Jude’s St., Boulder City, NV 89005-1681.

You can recycle cards in several different ways. Many local schools, churches and senior-citizen centers accept these cards, which are then reworked and recycled. Make a few calls to find one in your area. Your public library will be glad to help find what you are looking for if you pay it a visit or call the reference desk. Heloise

Dear Readers: Lorna, via e-mail, sent in three good hints that we are sharing:

• To prolong the life of your address book, write only the names in pen, then put the addresses in with pencil. That way, when a person moves or changes his or her phone number, all you have to do is erase the address and/or phone number.

• Occasionally, my husband and I like to fix our dinner plate and sit in the living room and eat. When we have soup, I place a piece of rubber shelf liner between the bowl and the plate so that it does not slide around on the plate.

• To extend the life of my shower liner, before putting up a new one, I take 2-inch clear packaging tape and run it across the top to cover the holes, then fold it in half and poke holes through the tape. Makes them last much longer.

Dear Heloise: While helping plan my daughter-in-law’s baby shower, instead of getting a regular guest book, I got an address book. At the shower, we put a friend in charge to make sure everyone signed it, and as gifts were opened, it was noted under the appropriate person. That way, when she writes her thank-you cards, the addresses and gift information will be available. Linda in Maine

Dear Heloise: I place a rectangle of rubber mesh under the pressure foot of my sewing machine. Now I don’t have to search for the wandering foot! Thanks for your hints — they are fun to read. Jane from Laguna Beach, Calif.

SBlt Send a money-saving or timesaving hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, TX 78279-5000, or you can fax it to (210) HELOISE or e-mail it to Heloise@Heloise.com.

King Features Syndicate