“Donald Wilson: His Postcards have Purpose”

Have you ever received a card in the mail that made your day a little brighter? Have you ever taken the time to send a card to a friend you haven't seen in years just to say “I'm thinking about you”? Most of us don't do those important little things that are appreciated so much by others, but Calvin College professor Donald Wilson does—every single day of the year.

Wilson, an anthropologist and member of Calvin's sociology department, has taken what 20 years ago was a modest list of names of those people he wanted to remember with a card every once in awhile and turned it into his second calling.

Today, with a list of over 2,500 people that he sends postcards to throughout the year, Wilson says his interest in postcards and knowing that he has made someone smile has become a hobby he couldn't live without.

It all started years ago, he said, when two friends were diagnosed with terminal illness. He says he remembers they got many cards when they were first diagnosed, but the cards tapered off.

“I vowed I would send them each a card a week so they knew I was thinking of them—no one knew they'd live three more years,” recalls Wilson.

From that beginning Wilson, who has taught at Calvin for 30 years and proudly boasts that he has taught 16,000 students in class over the years, says things just began to grow. He can't remember the name of the first person he sent a card to and doesn't profess to know every person on the list of 2,500, but he says he cares about them all and one only has to see the time he puts into his hobby to know that is true.

“I ordered 600 postcards today—different types because I send a lot of different cards. I love postcards and I love doing this as much as I know people like to get them,” says Wilson.

There is method to his madness. He explains that there are four categories of people to whom he sends cards. One group of people get cards just on their birthdays, the second group get cards four times a year, the third group gets a card every other month, and the fourth group receive cards every month.

“The people who get them every month are those who are in nursing homes and others who just really need special attention. Some people just don't have anyone else to pay attention or care about them. If this small thing I do can make their day it's worth it to me,” says Wilson.

Every athlete on Calvin's campus is on Wilson's list because he doesn't think student athletes get enough appreciation so he does his small part in showing them someone cares. Wilson is an avid Calvin sports fan and has faithfully attended all but one men's basketball games in the last 30 years.

He hears back from about half of the people on his list and says strong friendships and bonds have formed with many of the people. He has become a confidant to a number of them. He tells the story of one young woman on his list to whom he had sent cards for four years but from whom he had never heard until her brother committed suicide.

“She contacted me and needed to talk. I had never heard from her before, but I was the person she called. There is a sense in which I envision this as my ministry or an outreach. That makes me feel good,” says Wilson.

Wilson spends around $2000 a year on cards and postage and says it's a drop in the bucket when he thinks of the joy he is able to bring. He carries a few postcards with him to work or wherever he might find a few minutes to write them; he says he won't stop sending them.

“I love doing this. It doesn't make me better than anyone else; it's just my way of making a difference. It's just a fun part of my life.”

— By Lynette Cole‘90