As the pandemic and cold weather may cause Pennsylvanians to see their loved ones less often, Transforming Health partners will provide resources to promote important and meaningful acts of kindness. Together, WITF, Capital BlueCross, and WellSpan Health are offering free postcards as part of the "Fill PA With Love" cards of caring initiative, the next project in Transforming Health's "Here With You" campaign. Anyone can request a postcard collection to write messages of encouragement to send to people that may feel alone this season.

Neighbors are asked to help fight the winter blues and pandemic isolation by sending someone inspiring words of comfort and support. Transforming Health seeks to support residents who may have even less interaction with the outside world than normal. It has partnered with over 15 organizations, including local skilled-nursing facilities, shelters, and Meals on Wheels groups, to distribute postcards to people who could use some cheer. Over 1,800 postcards are pre-addressed to partner organizations in Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York counties.

Six bright postcard designs feature an unexpected heart shape in a natural setting. The initiative suggests participants customize each postcard and write a message of love, hope, community, and caring that would brighten the day of a fellow Pennsylvanian. The postcards are packaged in groups of three, with two postcards pre-addressed to partner organizations and one left blank for the participant to send to he or she chooses.

The staff of partner organizations will collect the postcards and hold them in a secure environment for 48 hours as a precaution against spreading the coronavirus. Then, they will distribute the "Fill PA With Love" cards of caring to their residents.

All postcards are pre-stamped, so senders do not have to pay for postage. Participants may request from one to five collections, or up to 15 postcards total.

Throughout the campaign, a map on the website tracks where the cards are sent. When participants request card collections, they can submit which zip code they will send their postcard to. Currently, the map has over 100 hearts pinned in Pennsylvania and will be updated at least once a week with new zip codes.

Transforming Health launched the "Here With You" campaign in June 2020 in response to the ongoing mental and physical needs of navigating life in a pandemic. In December, it distributed 735 "Here With You for the Holidays" grab and go bags to children in Harrisburg through the Capital Area Head Start.

On Saturday, March 20, the campaign will continue with "Spring Into Motion," a free 13-week community challenge featuring a calendar of daily activities for each day of spring. In June, Transforming Health will announce its selection for the 2021 A Summer Read.

"Fill PA With Love" cards of caring can be requested through the end of February. The request form and details for the Transforming Health "Here With You" campaign can be found at http://www.transforminghealth.org.