WASHINGTON — On Monday, the Greeting Card Association kicked off the second annual “Thinking of You Week”. It is expected that thousands of hand-written cards will be sent “just because”, all bearing the United States Postal Service postmark “Thinking of You. Mail a Smile”, which is featured on ALL first-class mail during the month of September for the second year.

The year-long campaign to raise awareness for this week, which celebrates the joy of sending and receiving hand-written notes and recognizes the social impact it can have, has resulted in an explosion of references on social media, all pointing to the fact that personal connection in this way is striking a chord with many people. “We have an overwhelming number of ways to connect these days, yet despite this people are feeling more isolated than ever”, says the leader of this initiative, Nicky Burton of Calypso Cards. “It is widely recognized that sending and receiving a hand-written card for no particular reason can help people feel connected.” This was perfectly illustrated by the BookCon event when attendees flocked to the “Thinking of You Week” booth in their hundreds to write and mail a card to their loved ones. Retailers across the country are embracing the movement and holding in-store events to show support and reach out to their local community.

“We are beyond excited for the second year of this important campaign,” said Peter Doherty, executive director. “The ‘Thinking of You Week’ movement has been growing immensely since its U.S. debut twelve months ago. The event originally started in the U.K. six years ago and we are excited to continue this exciting tradition.”

The Smithsonian’s National Postal Museum has also signed on to celebrate “Thinking of You Week” with a day of fun in Washington D.C on Saturday, September 28. Visitors can write, stamp and mail cards for loved ones, learn about how to address and decorate their envelopes, find out how card and letter sending has changed over the years and how it’s become a cherished tradition for many, and much more. Admission to the museum is free, and open to the public. For more information about this Smithsonian National Postal Museum event, visit https://s.si.edu/2mC9btI.

For more information on Thinking of You Week, visit: https://www.thinkingofyouweekusa.com/