I’ve volunteered to write postcards for an organization called ActivateAmerica:https://www.activateamerica.vote/postcards

ActivateAmerica is currently hoping, with its current campaign, that postcards sent to Democrats and Independents in states with Republican Members of Congress will contact their representatives and tell them how “outraged” they are with their votes to reduce Medicaid and food assistance “to millions of Americans.” I am currently writing to voters in Nebraska, but there are plenty of other states available.

Each volunteer to do this is responsible for buying the necessary postcards (which can be bought online for about $.04/each) and postcard stamps. The campaign for the constituents of each Member of Congress has its own script (usually 2 paragraphs). You receive the script and the list of as many names and addresses for which you offer to write postcards. I signed up for 75 cards for my current Nebraska campaign. Before that, I did Ohio, and wrote 100. I also wrote hundreds on behalf of Democratic candidates for the 2024 election.

Each card message ends with thanking the recipient and giving only your first name and title, “Volunteer”.

The idea behind this is the hope that people will more likely read a hand-written card than one that’s printed. Hence, the mind-numbing task of writing each and every message over and over. I’ve been assured that you can absolutely tell when something has gone through a printer. My cards definitely look handwritten.

Some people decorate their postcards with hearts and flowers. I don’t. My right hand would truly go on strike. Emphasis, with highlighters (I use colored pencils) on important words is encouraged.

I do all this because I’d like to think my efforts will inform the electorate for the 2026 Midterm elections AND because it helps my psyche knowing that, at least, I’m doing something. And I’ve learned I can usually write half of any script while I’m waiting for my computer to warm up or for somebody to answer a phone call.