Dear Heloise: My family and I recycle our Christmas and holiday CARD FRONTS. We send them to St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, where the kids make them into new cards that are sold online and in their gift shops — such a worthy cause! — Melissa in Ohio

Melissa, here’s a Heloise hug for you! The card program teaches kids about running a business, setting goals, time management, quality control and other life and work skills.

Readers, here are some more points about the program:

* No Hallmark, American Greetings or Disney cards, due to copyright restrictions.

* Brand-new cards are also accepted, with envelopes or without.

* Monetary donations are accepted.

Send your cards (no writing on the back) to: St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, 100 St. Jude’s St., Boulder City, NV 89005. Mail donations to: St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, 200 Wilson Circle, Boulder City, NV 89005, or you can donate through the website: www.StJudesRanch.org. — Heloise

TECH TUESDAY

Dear Heloise: How can I charge my cellphone more quickly? — Anita R. in Florida

Anita, here are some hints to try:

* Make sure there’s no dust in the connector port – pick out debris with a clean and dry toothpick.

* You’ll want to prevent the phone from getting too hot. Removing the phone from its case will help to charge it more efficiently.

* Powering off the phone completely can help. If the phone isn’t using energy to run apps, the entire charge is going to the battery.

— Heloise

DRUG ADS

Dear Heloise: My beef is about drug advertisements on TV. Everyone wants to know why prescription drug prices are so high, but no one takes into consideration the billions of dollars drug companies spend on TV advertisements.

If the TV is on while we’re eating dinner, quite frankly, I don’t want to hear about something that can cause vomiting, diarrhea or possible death! They want me to “ask my doctor.” Are they implying that my doctor isn’t smart enough to know what medicines I need? — Sally Rice, via email

MEMORY MAKER

Dear Heloise: Over the years, I would always buy postcards when our family was on vacation. Wherever we went, each kid picked out a postcard from various stops.

These postcards were gathering in a drawer when I had a great idea. After the kids went away to college, I sent them the postcards periodically.

They loved receiving them and the memories that went along with each one. — Jill in Temecula, Calif.

Love it — such special memories! — Heloise

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Hints from Heloise run occasionally in Lifestyles. Readers may send a hint to Heloise, P.O. Box 795000, San Antonio, Texas 78279-5000, fax it to 210-HELOISE, or email: Heloise@Heloise.com. Letters won’t be answered personally.