Olive & Cocoa Launches Autumn Roots
Olive & Cocoa recently introduced its Autumn Roots

American Indian Relief Council Promotes “Operation Turkey Dinner”
The American Indian Relief Council (AIRC) added address labels to its annual Operation Turkey Dinner campaign. The new 5½” x 9½” package greets recipients with “Happy Thanksgiving” along with the teaser “Free Gift Enclosed.” The freemium includes a personalized thank you note from the Sioux Tribe, and the address labels feature seasonal images of fall and Thanksgiving. A personalized “Sponsor’s Table Card” involvement device is affixed to a letter detailing the AIRC’s mission to supply Thanksgiving turkey dinners to members of the Sioux Nation. A gift of $26 will provide a complete turkey dinner for an extended American Indian family with four adults and children. Also included in the package is a note from Summer Fox Belly, a member of the Oglala Lakota Sioux Tribe of South Dakota. She states “now is the time Native American people need to feel like people care for them” and a donation will make a difference in someone’s life. The back of the business reply envelope lists other ways to help the AIRC, including signing an online pledge, supporting Native American workers and artisans, and subscribing to Native American publications. Donors are instructed to add their name as a sponsor and return the card along with a donation. The reply form presents an ask ladder of $104/$78/$52/$26/$13/other, with each $26 increment feeding an entire family.

Bowery Mission Inserts Thanksgiving Plea
The Bowery Mission reached New York-area food buyers with a fundraising appeal for its annual Thanksgiving dinner initiative via a recent package insert featuring a detachable reply form and postage paid envelope. The Christian nonprofit helps the hungry and homeless of New York City by providing food, shelter, and medical care as well as job training, addiction recovery services, and spiritual support. The 3½” x 6” piece was inserted into a package from online grocer FreshDirect and the marketer’s logo appears on the insert. The front of the appeal is a reply form in the shape of a “meal ticket” with the header “Hot Thanksgiving Dinner – Just $1.59.” Text explains that for $1.59 one person can be fed a hot turkey dinner this Thanksgiving. The $17.49/$20.67/$39.75/$71.55/$135.15 ask ladder is listed with the number of people that each denomination can feed (11/13/25/45/85 respectively). The organization also conducted its longstanding direct mail appeal this year, which uses the “meal ticket” theme but features a different ask ladder. Inside, the connection between New York-based FreshDirect and The Bowery Mission is made clear with the text “This coupon has come to you in a box full of wholesome food from FreshDirect…We’re partnering with the Mission because we believe it’s good for New York City.” The promotion urges recipients to send the most generous donation that they can and thanks them in advance for their generosity. It also lists the website Bowery.org where donations may also be made.

Snows Catalog Mails Devotional Gift Catalog
The National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows mailed a Christmas 2008 edition of its Snows catalog featuring a wide range of devotional gifts. Our Lady of the Snows is a Shrine to Mary in Southern Illinois. It is operated by the Catholic priests and brothers of The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and offers lodging for guests of all faiths. A 14½” ceramic Angel of Peace and Joy ($84.95) houses the Nativity scene on the cover of the promotion. Inside, a section titled “Way of Lights” encourages recipients to visit the Shrine between November 21, 2008 and January 4, 2009 in order to view the display of lights that celebrates the birth of Christ. Shoppers are reminded that all proceeds from the catalog are used to help the Missionary Oblates continue their work around the world. Gift categories are identified by the four snapshots of products titled “O Holy Night,” “Something for Everyone,” “Gifts for Baby,” and “Words of Inspiration.” Above the Fontanini Nativity Starter Set ($59.95) on the opposing page, shoppers are invited to visit the Shrine on November 30th to meet designer Emmanuele Fontanini in person for a product signing. Merchandise includes ornaments ($8.95 -$19.95) and a selection of Christmas Cards ($7.95 – $13.95) as well as a wide variety of Rosaries ($11.95 – $139.95) and Rosary Bracelets (6.95 – $39.95). Orders can be made online, by mail or phone.

The direct mail promotions appearing in Mail Stream are tracked and written up by ParadyszMatera, a media brokerage services company, through its MarketRelevance(tm) Promotion Library. Click here to visit their site: ParadyszMatera.com.