Judy Desrosiers enlisted members of American Legion Auxiliary 360 in Weatherly in her card-stamping hobby more than a year ago.

But the bimonthly activity is not just about ladies getting together for crafting - their sessions help a special mission, Cards for Soldiers.

Cards for Soldiers provides greeting cards to soldiers deployed around the world, as well as Veterans Affairs hospitals.

The organization was founded by Charly Mathews, an Air Force veteran, who understood how difficult it was for deployed soldiers to find cards to send home to loved ones, Desrosiers said.

“There are no Walmarts, Dollar Stores or Hallmark stores on these bases or in the field for a soldier to go buy a card,” she said.

Mathews came up with the idea to send cards and care packages to soldiers and veterans, said Desrosiers, who had been looking for an outlet for the surplus of her own handmade cards.

She has been rubber stamping and card making for more than 20 years, and donated her wares to other groups before finding Cards for Soldiers, a cause that truly resonated with her.

She and other Legion auxiliary members now make 70 to 100 cards every other month, even though donations of commercial greeting cards are also accepted.

“I have offered my time, my personal supplies and I pay for the postage to send the boxes to Charly’s Cards for Soldiers,” Desrosiers said. “It’s my contribution to this event, since I’m very passionate about it.”

Her efforts recently caught the attention of Mathews, who sent her a message on social media asking for a phone call, she said.

The two women talked for more than two hours about the Legion auxiliary, the Cards for Soldiers mission and a little bit of everything, becoming fast friends, Desrosiers said.

Mathews, who lives in Graying, Michigan, now plans to come to Weatherly later this month to participate in the auxiliary’s Spring Marathon for Cards for Soldiers, she said.

The event is from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 26 at the Weatherly American Legion post home at 360 Veterans Lane, next to the borough building.

Desrosiers sent more than 75 letters inviting other organizations to participate in the card-making marathon. As of last week, more than 30 replied she said. Participants will make blank cards for soldiers to send home to family and friends, as well as fill out others with words of encouragement or just a thank you for their service.

All supplies will be made available, and food, snacks and drinks will also be available free of charge, Desrosiers said

“This day will not cost a penny - just a little bit of your time,” she said.

Desrosiers asks that people interested in the event contact her by March 19, so that they can plan for groups and fill in time slots. She can be reached by email, rayjudyd@pa.metrocast.net, or by calling 570-427-8342 or 570-657-5254.

The auxiliary has crafted and contributed more than 400 cards to the project, which has now provided hundreds of thousands of cards to soldiers and veterans, she said.

“Our 437 is just a small part, but what is the saying,” Desrosiers asked. “One drop at a time leads to an ocean.”