First drop — It all started this past 4th of July. I had gotten postcards to write for the Herb Jones for Congress – District 1 in Virginia and after recent Supreme Court decisions, didn’t feel like celebrating a “normal” 4th of July. I decided to go write postcards at the Urban Farmhouse in Midlothian, VA, a nice location with good coffee and food, where you can sit outside on a patio. I sent out a few inquiries on my social media groups, saying I would be there writing postcards, and if anyone else showed up, I had postcards for them too. I really expected no one to show up, as it was the fourth of July. I was amazed when a whole table full of people showed up and wrote postcards!
Ripple 1 — From this turnout, I figured there was interest and demand for writing postcards. I contacted the campaign and got 1,000 postcards and addresses figuring that would be enough for a while. Three days later, I had 13 people take ALL of the postcards to write!
Ripple 2 — The second time I requested 1,200 postcards, figuring that would be enough, and a few days later, the same thing happened. I was out of postcards!
Looking back a month ago today, I facilitated the distribution of 3,334 postcards. I now have another big box of postcards, and some takers lined up once I can get them packaged and ready to go. I’m refining as I go to make it more efficient. I put packets with their names on it, and put in a shoebox on my front porch, and people pick them up at a time of their choosing. For those of those that have transportation issues, or having trouble finding the time, I’ve driven them out to their house. Some people have already come back a second time for more postcards.
Ripple 3 — I started canvassing my precinct, which is what I really like to do, and found more postcard volunteers. One lady had recently moved here, and said she wanted to plug in and volunteer, but didn’t know how. I said, “You are in luck! I’m doing postcards here in the county”. I went back to my house and got her 50 requested cards, and hand delivered to her house. She just notified me that she finished them and mailed them out.
It just kind of organically happened, I never planned to organize a distribution operation. I saw a need, and got the initial batch of postcards to “test drive” the interest in volunteering. Crazy, that initially I thought of writing 100 cards only.