City receives thousands of recycled holiday cards

St. Jude's Ranch for Children will get a big shipment from the Carson City Building and Safety Department soon.

City staff had no idea how the community would support their drive to collect used holiday greeting cards that children at St. Jude's then recycle and sell to raise money.

The city received more than 10,000 holiday cards during their first charity drive here this holiday season.

"The response has been overwhelming," said Deborah Wiggins, environmental and training specialist for the department. "It's been really well received. I'd just like to thank the community for supporting it."

St. Jude's Ranch for Children in Boulder City will reuse the fronts of the cards, turning them into "new" cards by gluing them to pre-printed card stock. The cards are then sold to support the facility. The children who participate in the program earn credits.

For 35 years, nonprofit, nonsectarian St. Jude's Ranch for Children has cared for abused, abandoned, neglected and at-risk children from infancy to age 21.