Postcards that spark smiles can also spark reading… and in December that is especially true! We’re launching this year’s “Cards for Literacy” with Deutsche Post, turning every card sent from Germany into support for literacy programs across the country. Let’s keep this joyful tradition rolling, helping fund reading initiatives and puting more books into more hands!
If you’re in Germany, now’s the time to stock up on postcards and stamps! Every card you send in December (that is registered until the end of February 2026) can help turn pages for new readers.
And there’s a bonus: Deutsche Post is giving away three adorable postboxes. Everyone who sends postcards from Germany during the campaign is in the draw — the more you send, the more chances you’ll have. This year’s donation is capped at €10,000, but even after the cap is reached, every postcard you send still counts toward the prize draw. Winners will be randomly selected in March 2026.
Not in Germany? You will be helping too! By registering postcards from Germany promptly, you help senders mail their next cards sooner, which keeps the donations flowing until the cap is reached.
A big part of Stiftung Lesen's important mission is meeting readers where they are, from after-school centers, youth clubs, refugee accommodations or rural libraries. They bring books, trained volunteers, and ready-to-use materials to places that often have the fewest resources but the greatest need. We’re honored to support their mission again this year.
Alright, that’s the plan — now let’s write, stamp, and send! Whether you’re mailing or registering, every small action adds up. Here’s to a fantastic 13th year of Cards for Literacy!
P.S. Postcrossing respects your privacy and will not share your personal information. Full details of the campaign are available here (in German).
14 comments so far
How every year in december - a very good campaign and I am ready to start!
The limit of 10,000 is another flaw of Deutsche Post. After price increases, a lack of post offices, stressed postmen, irregular deliveries, etc.
Perhaps we should start a fundraising campaign for Deutsche Post.
What a great campaign! Makes postcard writing even more exciting than it is already!
The cap at 10000 isn’t really understandable, since it would be very unlikely (with the price increase) to hit the record of last year… it is a pity!
But on the other hand we are all happy that we have another chance to contribute to Stiftung Lesen by something we love to to: writing postcards! I am sure we will do all we can that we write as many cards as possible, to make sure the 10.000 will be payed 😁
To win such a great mailbox would be indeed fantastic!
Bin dabei! 😄
Sad that there is a limit of 10.000 € this year. Seems almost as they are afraid that we write too much. That 10.000 € will be reached soon!
Es wäre wirklich toll, wenn die Empfänger dies berücksichtigen und die Postkarten schneller registrieren würden :):):):) Happy Postcrossing
amazing
Love this campaign! I will colect postcards with books on it now!
Keep in mind if you're unhappy with Deutsche Post increasing prices you can actually do something by simply not using Deutsche Post for national deliveries. Regional post offices are called either Citipost in the north or PIN mail in Berlin or something else in other parts of Germany. They have to offer nationwide deliveries, but often international delivery is only for business customers.
It comes with downsides though: delivery often takes longer as they need to collect enough to make a route profitable and often larger stickers are used for routing at the place where the stamps would be.
How does Deutsche Post knows the sender of a postcard to pick the winner for the postbox?
@Natti Paulo uses a random number generator that picks 3 usernames to win the postbox among all the members who sent a postcard in December (registered until end of February). We then contact those members one by one, to ask permission to share their address with Deutsche Post, who sends them the prize.
I always start saving up slots mid-november for the occasion. I currently have 25. We'll see if a few more will be added until monday.
I'm a bit sad though, that there's a cap / limit this year. But there's no doubt in my mind that we will reach the 10k in no time.
A very worthy campaign and cause! Best wishes to all! :)