500,000 Greeting Cards Given Away for Day of Encouragement

By Michelle A. Vu, Christian Post Reporter Sunday, September 12, 2010

The world's largest Christian-themed product company gave away 500,000 cards this week in honor of the National Day of Encouragement.

Since Sept. 6, DaySpring has been giving away free greeting cards designed specifically for the National Day of Encouragement, Sept. 12, through Christian retail stores throughout the country. DaySpring hopes that it can help people encourage others through the free card with the message, "In this great big world, YOU make a difference."

This is the first year DaySpring has given out cards for National Day of Encouragement.

"When you send a card, people re-read those cards and they keep those cards," remarked Kim Marquette, manager of DaySpring's Everyday Greeting Cards, on Friday. "We hear from people all the time that it (the greeting card) arrives at the exact moment they needed it and they feel it is a very sovereign thing."

"We know God had a hand in that and he put it in the mailbox at exactly when you needed it."

The National Day of Encouragement was created by a group of high school students in Searcy, Ark., in June 2007. It was officially recognized by President George W. Bush in 2008, and endorsed by Southwest Airlines, Commonsensesuccess.net, CNL Lifestyle Properties, DaySpring and Harding University in Searcy, Ark.

Andrew Baker, organizer of the National Day of Encouragement and executive director of the Encouragement Foundation, said he hopes the day inspires Americans to make "deliberate words and acts of encouragement" on the day and then every day thereafter.

Since the day falls on a Sunday this year, supporters are asking churches to remind their congregation about the movement, said Baker, who is also executive director of the Mitchell Center for Leadership and Ministry at Harding University.

"Encouragement is in the DNA of all people, both in our ability to encourage and our personal need for it," said DaySpring's Great Card Giveaway spokesman, Max Lucado. "The National Day of Encouragement is a day specifically set aside to bring loving affirmation to those around us."

Founded in 1971 by four Christian men, DaySpring offers more than 7,000 products that are sold in the United States and in 60 other countries. It was acquired by Hallmark Cards, Inc., in 1999.