HOLLIS – What started out as a lesson in gratitude for one area woman and her family has turned into a virtual cottage industry that has made the holiday season special for more than a half-million U.S. troops at home and abroad.

Almost two decades ago, Laura Landerman-Garber gathered around her Thanksgiving-Day table and tasked her family to “earn” their holiday meal and show that they were thankful by writing holiday cards to U.S. troops.

“This is year 18, and it started with my kids. They were young, and it was a Thanksgiving lesson – a lesson on gratitude,” Landerman-Garber said. “So, one year without any heads up, without any warning, I put five holiday cards on every plate. I said, ‘this was your ticket to turkey. You want to eat, you write the cards.'”

“(At first), we sent them to the Tilton Veterans Home, we sent them to the Naval hospital in Bethesda (Maryland) and to the Wounded Warriors program,” Landerman-Garber added.

From that Thanksgiving, the tradition grew, and grew and grew.

“My family would do maybe a couple hundred then, over the years, the neighbors would do a couple hundred more,” she said. “It was a little community. I’d have one of my kid’s school classes do them. Then, in 2017, a family friend was deployed, and that’s when everything changed. He was deployed to an aircraft carrier, and I thought, you know what, we’re going to send everyone on that little boat – that’s what I called it, but I didn’t know, because no one in my family, uncles, fathers and aunts, they were in World War II and in the Korean War, but nobody current until 2017 – and I had no idea that there were 5,000 people aboard that boat – that ship.”

“I called it a challenge, because everybody likes a challenge,” Landerman-Garber added. “We are New Hampshire, we love a challenge. We can get through the winter, we can write as many cards as we need to.”

So, Landerman-Garber got to work, calling the governor, the state’s Congressional delegation and even the local Girl Scouts.

“I mean, I called it in,” she joked. “I was that mom when the kids were little, I was volunteering everywhere, and I would call and say, ‘remember me?’ And, nobody was really going to say no, because it’s nonpartisan, it doesn’t matter what religion you are, it doesn’t matter how old you are, it doesn’t matter who you love. All that matters is, I think, you have a kind heart and you recognize that there are people who are away from home who are defending our freedoms, and if you can spend five minutes writing a little card, that’s all it takes. I was not asking for any money, not a lot of time, and it’s fun, too. It’s a fun project for everybody – families, schools, churches, synagogues.”

That year, 17,000 cards came in, shattering Landerman-Garber’s initial goal of 5,000.

Then, in 2018, a World War II Marine veteran said he would only sign a card if the next year she promised to send cards to all branches of the military.

Again, challenge accepted.

That’s when Landerman-Garber approached a local attorney for help in setting up a 501(c)3.

“An attorney in Nashua helped me create it as did a Nashua accountant who volunteered their time,” she said. “You know, which is a big thing, because I had no clue how to do that and get it off the ground.”

Landerman-Garber not only got it off the ground that year – with her newly minted nonprofit, Holiday Cards 4 Our Military NH Challenge – but she hit it out of the ballpark by getting 50,000 cards to send to those in all branches of the military. That’s also when she started to get assistance from local and regional companies.

“It was kind of wild, and then because I formed a nonprofit — I needed help with the postage – that’s when companies like Eversource and Walmart and Hannaford stepped up and said they would love to help,” Landerman-Garber said. “Eversource really helped a lot. In fact, they took it as like their own personal passion project. They’ve been amazing, and Hannaford, as well. They really have, and Fidelity now. We also have BAE, because the CEO has roots in New Hampshire. A lot of large companies have stepped in and helped.”

In addition, help also has come from those who have heard about the program or have been impacted by it.

“One of my favorite stories ever is I got an envelope with a crumpled up $1 bill, and the mother wrote a little note that said, ‘This is from my 5-year-old little boy. It’s his whole allowance for the month, and he wanted to give it to the soldiers.’ That’s the sweetest thing.”

From 50,000 holiday cards in 2018, numbers skyrocketed to 175,000 in 2019, from 48 states.

“They’re all in my house, every single year,” Landerman-Garber said. “And, every card has to be read. So, my family would gather around, and we would read cards. Then, I reached out to the communities, Nashua, Hollis, Brookline, Merrimack, and I said ‘Ladies and gentlemen, I need your help. I need you to read these cards to make sure they are appropriate.’ They usually are, but some have been inappropriate, not so much out of malice, but more out of what might be triggering (to the troops).”

That started Landerman-Garber down another path, getting assistance from community members, groups and other to review the holiday greetings. As with earlier endeavors, the community came through in style, even last year during the pandemic. That’s when Landerman-Garber set up contactless pickup from her garage, which she plans on doing again this year.

“Last year, in 2020, I didn’t know what to expect,” she said. “We ended up getting 110,000 cards. It was really exciting, because schools were remote, and businesses were remote. For example, Eversource, we had Zoom calls, like ‘Brady Bunch’ Zoom, and we had events where there would be 15 people or more and we’d write cards together. We had to get creative.”

“We’re keeping the cautionary guidelines in place,” Landerman-Garber added. “And, we still need volunteers to help look through the cards.”

With going through that many cards before they are sent to troops, Landerman-Garber has many favorites, both humorous ones and touching ones.

“I was really honored to be on ‘New Hampshire Chronicles’ last month, and I told the story about my dog eating one of the cards. It’s for real. He ate a half a card, Norman did. Instead of throwing it away, which I couldn’t, I attached a note and said, ‘My dog ate your homework, my dog ate part of your card. I’m sorry.’ Wouldn’t it be great to get that.”

Another favorite story was a card that came in from a little girl that said her grandpa was in the Navy and he had one job. He had to protect Elvis Presley, and keep him from getting in trouble.

“Some are as simple as, ‘I like blueberries, the end,” Landerman-Garber said. “Another card said, ‘Dear Mike, (and we don’t know who Mike is) my name is Alexis. My BFF Victoria loves you. Don’t tell anybody. Happy holidays.’ All I can think is that somebody is going to get that card, and they’re going to go find a guy named Mike and say, ‘I think this is for you.’ And, they’re going to have a good laugh. So, the connections are not only between the writer and the recipient, but my hope is that they (the troops) share them with their peers and make connections. Like, some of the cards are in Spanish, so if you get a card in Braille (which Landerman-Garber has), or Spanish, hopefully, they will seek someone out who speaks the language and make a new friend.”

Another special card Landerman-Garber remembers is one where a young man came out in his card.

“I thought what he wrote was beautiful,” she said. “The card said, ‘I can do that (come out), because you are fighting for everyone’s freedom, even if you disagree with that.’ Everybody has a right to be free, and I thought it was a beautiful card. It was written very, very well, and was from the heart.”

From the special messages to the troops, to homemade cards and all the effort people are putting in to make the Holiday Cards 4 Our Military NH Challenge a success, Landerman-Garber remains thankful and humbled.

“It’s really kind of beautiful,” she said. “It shows that there still are good people in the world. It’s like what (John F.) Kennedy said, ‘Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.’ Even in a little teeny way, writing a card is doing that, and maybe the reflections that these kids and grown-ups are having may, who knows, maybe they’ll join the military. Maybe they’ll go into public service.”

“I’m just so grateful to New Hampshire,” Landerman-Garber said. “It all started here in Southern New Hampshire. I’m so grateful to those who heard one person’s call to arms, so to speak. Everyone has stepped up. They have just flown with it, and they really have fun with it.”

•••

FAST FACTS

Laura Landerman-Garber offers some guidelines and pointers for writing cards for the Holiday Cards 4 Our Military N.H. Challenge, including:

• Start with a greeting card or piece of paper no larger than 8.5×11 (folded in half to make a card).

• Address the card to “Dear Warrior.”

• Write a personal note. Share about yourself and your community. For example: How do you celebrate the holidays? Our servicemen and servicewomen enjoy learning about your hometown. The messages can be serious or funny, or both, always keeping in mind that appropriate and respectful language is a must. (See prompts below). Our troops love your drawings, too. Be creative.

• Sign your first name ONLY and your city/state. If you are part of a group, business, school and/or are a service member or member of a service family, feel free to add that information.

• Envelopes are not necessary. If you have an envelope, please DO NOT seal it. There is no need to address the envelope, but you can write “Warrior” on the outside. Feel free to decorate the envelope.

• Writing prompts: I appreciate what you do because…; My favorite holiday tradition is…; I love the holidays, because…; In my family, we always … during the holidays…; This year, I wish…; In (my city, state) we celebrate by…; I know someone in the military…; My holiday wish for you is…; When I grow up, I want to…; In my free time, I. …

•••

Completed cards can be sent to: Holiday Card Challenge, P.O. Box 103, Hollis, NH 03049. If using FedEx or UPS, send to: Holiday Card Challenge, Suite 407, 400 Amherst St., Nashua, NH 03063.

•••

The 2021 deadline is Oct. 31. Cards will be accepted after the deadline either for later 2021 mailings or for the 2022 Card Challenge.

•••

For additional information, visit www.militaryholidaycardchallenge.com, visit Holiday Card Challenge on Facebook and Instagram or email holidaycardsnh@gmail.com.