Give Good Greeting Cards

Call me the ultimate procrastinator, but I've got a lot of work to do for the holidays. I haven't bought any cards to send anyone yet, let alone thought much about gifts. I'll deal with the gifts later. Monday, Dan wrote about how to choose a "green" tree — the tree is on my to-do list for this weekend.

One thing at a time, so let's start with the cards. I'm looking for cards with a cause — cards with a purpose. I don't want to just go down to the local drugstore and buy a box of any old Hallmark cards (no offense to Hallmark, which makes a fine card). I'd rather that part of my card purchase go to charity. I want the card I send to loved ones to make at least a small statement, and to show that I care at least enough to have put some thought into something.

Many organizations sell holiday cards directly through their websites. The Sierra Club, PETA, and the Humane Society of the United States are just a few. But very few sites offer an array of cards that benefit a variety of organizations, allowing you to pick and choose the one that suits you best. Here are a few that do, and a couple of other gems that sell eco-conscious or cause-based holiday greeting cards:

Cards That Give has the most comprehensive site I could find, and contains dozens of cards supporting a huge number of organizations from the Seattle Audubon Society to the Art Institute of Chicago (and many more, big and small). Good Cause Greetings sells a number of cards that benefit various charities including Amnesty International and others. Holiday Card Center has an entire section of cards which benefits The Smithsonian and its mission of historical preservation and research. FairMail offers fair-trade, holiday-themed postcards made in Peru, featuring photographs taken by underprivileged teenagers from the country. Holiday Classics sells a whole line of cards that are made from 100 percent recycled paper.

Of course, if you want to save a tree you can always send an e-card. Greenpeace, for example, makes some fun ones. Or, you can get creative and make your own e-card using a family photo and spending a little time with Photoshop.

Know of other great greeting card sites, resources or ideas? Post them in the comments, and happy holidays!