A Year In Review - The Little Free Postcard Mailbox (2024)
The Little Free Library concept (now quite a common site) swept across the world. Naturally, that was the springboard for The Little Free Postcard Mailbox located at Hoopes Park in Auburn NY. With the support of the city and the park it was installed in front of the iconic clubhouse and on January 1, 2024, the first batch of postcards were delivered. The Postcard Project was ready to share the fun of sending and receiving postcards in a fun and unique way. It is a joy to share some of what I have learned over the last year from a mailbox, a journal and some postcards. On 5/26/24 a mailbox visitor wrote, “A little kindness goes a long way. Love the idea of the postcards and the journal.” To all the folks that left a journal note, you have made my heart burst!
I enjoy the sentiments, the handwriting, the pictures along with my walk to Hoopes each Monday to deliver some postcard freebies, with one special postcard stamped! Recently, this postcard lady snowbird brought the 2024 journal to Florida to thoroughly read and compose a reflective piece on this special journey. True story … while in Florida I visited the Sarasota Post Office to mail some items. A young woman at the desk began to process my items when she looked up and said, “Is this The Postcard Project mailbox in front of the Hoopes Park clubhouse?” I was stunned! It really was only minutes, but our conversation left me feeling I had made a young friend and witnessed someone missing her hometown. She told me (in a bit of a choked voice) she left a note in the journal while visiting home last summer and it meant a lot to her. So, for Amy, and all the Hoopes Park visitors, I thank you.
Many visitors shared where they call home and the intended destination of the postcard: Cayuga NY, Syracuse NY, Atlanta GA, Jackson SC, South Amboy, NJ, Vermont, Ithaca NY, Groton-on-Hudson NY, Ottawa Ontario, California, Skaneateles NY, Florida, New Mexico and Texas. They came to watch the 2024 Eclipse, have a “Girls Gathering,” visit family and oh-so-many simply coming for a walk. I grew to recognize handwriting (Anna & Deli) and looked forward to each entry. On 4/22/24 I could not get DJ and his stunning journal entry out of my head and heart. It felt like a privilege and honor that he wrote: “My father … died today. He was born and raised in Auburn. He loved it here. He loved people. He loved to fish. There are fishermen here today – looks like a grandpa with his family. It is a beautiful day. He lived well. He died well. I am proud to be his son. I am proud I was born and raised in his hometown.” DJ Springfield, VA.
What a treat to see that children were being introduced to postcards: “Thank you so much for the postcard. I picked a beautiful fall foliage one to send to my Grandpa! He loves getting mail and I’m sure he’ll love the pretty picture – Katie.” Ophelia wrote in her beautiful printing “Nature is good.” She is right, so many folks wrote about their love for Hoopes Park! Some folks shared how they were going to use their postcards. On 7/22/24 one friend wrote, “Postcard going to someone who made me a Thanksgiving meal in July.” And on 11/7/24, “Thank you so much for the postcard. My nephew just lost his wife to cancer. This will put a smile on his face.” I just loved this entry from a teacher, “In 2020, I sent postcards to all my remote students, and they told me how much it cheered them up.”
Quite a while ago, I began diligently sending postcards as my “New Year” initiative; it was my project. Later, I started The Postcard Project with the help from Finger Lakes Press as an opportunity to make my own postcards and donate money to The Auburn Education Foundation and The Finger Lakes Land Trust. These have been good projects. Currently, The Postcard Project is working on two more initiatives. 5th grade students from Herman Avenue School have been engaged in a Pen Pal Project with Skaneateles 5th grade. Before the end of the school year, I will be meeting with the Graphic Design & New Media students at the Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES, to propose a NEW set of “You Know You’re From Auburn” postcards – their perspective!
I firmly believe that “a little kindness goes a long way.” Thank you to everyone that stopped by the Hoopes Park postcard mailbox in 2024. The red bar on the Little Free Postcard Mailbox is up! You’ve got mail! Make today a postcard day. Don’t forget to add a note to the 2025 journal!
-Teresa Ringwood Hoercher / THE POSTCARD PROJECT / www.thepostcardproject.us / February 2025
