Woman sends over 500 cards to those isolated during pandemic

A Florida woman received a card maker from her son. And a project that began as making cards for her mother turned into so much more.

Rose Barchalk loves talking about her hobby. “My mom is 84 years young and she was the one who kind of started this because I’d send her some cards and she’d be elated that she got a card from me,” Barchalk said.

Knowing how much she loved it, her son sent her a card maker. “It just so happened this year, my son sent me a card maker,” she said.

That’s when Barchalk really got to work. She made a “Deck The Palms” card along with 500 others.

“They went to the cancer center, the children’s hospital and then I had other people who responded, who said can you send me some,” said Barchalk.

Her cards went international. They made it all the way to Australia, which is where her daughter lives.

“It’s created a greater purpose for me,” she said.

Barchalk’s already hard at work creating Valentine’s Day cards to hand out at Golisano’s Children’s Hospital.

She’s doing her best to live her life with her mom’s motto. “When you find somebody without a smile, give them yours,” Barchalk said.