Before I proceed, I want to thank everyone who's backing my effort here. I've received a number of generous donations via PayPal so far and I'm grateful for every last penny. It's not even been a full day yet and the total in cash donations is $105.00!
Can you receive packages at that PO Box address? I could thin out some decks in my extras pile and send them to you for the kids.
I can receive a package of any size there - I'll just have to get it at the window if its beyond the size of a few small Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes, or the flatter of the two medium boxes. It's not a problem. I think if you know the size of USPS PO Boxes, mine is a size 3 (I think). Size 1 is the tiniest, Size 2 is double that size, Size 3 is triple the size of a 2. I was tempted to get a size 4 but the price was a bit too high for my purposes.
Yeah, I'd be happy to send some decks to you to hand out as well if you like.
Please check in your case that it's not prohibitively expensive to ship. If it is, simply send cash instead and Bill will help me convert them into decks!
Think of it like this - you would spend X GBP getting a handful of decks to me. If X is high enough, though, that same amount of cash could possibly get me more than the number of decks you planned to ship in the first place. It's much cheaper to send ones and zeroes to the other hemisphere than it is to send physical objects! But of course, if X is low enough, I'm happy to receive your decks with gratitude.
I've defiantly got some new decks to give. Do you have any handling or quality restrictions?
If a deck is REALLY BAD, like "99¢ store" bad, I have tricks I can use them for where I destroy a couple of cards in the process. Handling is much less of an issue with those tricks. Obviously, though, the preference would be something decent for magic, or at least for playing - decks that are better for games than magic I give to a different volunteer program at the same hospital. A number of high schoolers grab a big tote bag each filled with games and puzzles and such and go from room to room, offering to play with the kids for a while. Playing cards for them always come in handy. I sent them some UNO cards I stumbled upon at a 99¢ store once and they were happy for them - kids love UNO.
Hey Don, I've sent you a bit of money to help out - I'd like to send some decks from my parrot deck as well. I don't know if they're the kind of quality you're used to (they're from Quality Playing Cards) but I think the kids would get a kick out of them since they're so colorful. I should be getting them fairly soon, and I'll have to see how much I can spare after I fulfill all my kickstarter pledges.
Good luck with your project! 
Trust me, few decks out there are worse than the Chinese-made Streamlines. If they're at least that good, I can work with them! If not, like I said above, kids love playing card games with the other volunteers.
I'l like to pass on to you an email I received earlier today which surprised the heck out of me.
Hello Don I saw your post about cards for kids. I frequently donate my time to children's hospitals and donate items to the children's magic Safari and other charity organizations and have for many years.
I would be happy to donate cards to your cause if you would like some.
Keep up the good work! De'voYes, it's THAT De'vo - De'vo vom Schattenreich from
Handlordz. We exchanged a few emails and he's stated that he's sending me a gross of assorted playing cards which will be in the mail Monday - some from his inventory, some from his personal collection and some garden-variety decks most performers use. I'm glad he mentioned that some of what he's sending are his April Fool's Decks from this year and last year. The kids would go absolutely nuts for them, the younger girls in particular.
He also went on to say that he does similar work himself with children in hospitals - in fact, a member of the Handlordz team was stricken with cancer and he raised money to help with the expenses. He called that act "the greatest thing I've accomplished as De'vo," and I think it's absolutely fantastic and kind-hearted of him to do so. He mentioned that it was OK if I mentioned his gift on the board, though he doesn't do this sort of thing for publicity - I responded that this is the sort of thing that people need to know about, to view him as a role model and make contributions either in cash or with your presence and your skills as a volunteer. His gift is extremely generous and I can't thank him enough.
Please keep your donations coming! A gross is excellent, but a gross only lasts about a half-year at best, sometimes even less. My wife may kill me for putting so many decks of cards in our home in addition to my own collection, but I want to raise as much funds as possible - the more you give today, the longer that supply will last, keeping kids happy for months to come! A hospital can be a scary place, even for older kids - a pack of cards is a reminder to them of life back home, a home that hopefully most will return to quickly, it's a distraction from their pain and discomfort and they help the time go faster than any TV program can.
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