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Queen Anne residents Susie Hecht and Ericka Lock are selling handmade cards to benefit victims of the Oso landslide.

After the March 22 landslide, Hecht and Lock were feeling the way many people were: heartbreak and “utter desperation.” Hecht initially felt like she should go to Oso and help out but knew they were turning people away. So she and Lock decided to make handmade cards, sell them and donate the proceeds. By the end of March, they were in business.

Lock had experience hand-stamping cards. They used her reserve cardstock to stamp and color three floral designs. The front of the all-occasion cards say, “Oh, so…,” as a play on the city’s name. The inside is blank; this allows people to customize their message like “Oh, so sorry” or “Oh, so proud of you,’ Hecht explained.

Each pack comes with three cards and an explanation of the charitable efforts.

They’ve started selling the cards under the name “E-Su,” a combination of their first names. Hecht is asking for $20 for the cards, but she will take $10; some people have donated as much as $100. They know that 100 percent of the donations are being donated to a charity that will give all of the money directly to those affected, Hecht said.

Hecht, Lock and other volunteers have donated all of the supplies and time to create the cards.

The local retailers are selling the “Oh, so” cards include:

•Mimisan Nails (2207 Queen Anne Ave. N.);

•Stacya Silverman & Associates (614 W. McGraw St., No. 101);

•Bustle Caffe (535 W. McGraw St.);

•The Seattle Gym (1530 Queen Anne Ave. N.);

•Queen Anne Book Co. (1811 Queen Anne Ave. N.);

•Cupcake Royale (1935 Queen Anne Ave. N.);

•Chocopolis (1527 Queen Anne Ave. N.); and

•Twirl Cafe (2111 Queen Anne Ave. N.).

They are also being sold at G & H Printing (2370 Eastlake Ave. E.) in Eastlake and Blue Saucer (9127 Roosevelt Way N.E.) in Maple Leaf.

The initial goal was to raise $500 for victims; within two weeks, they doubled that. Then businesses started getting on board, agreeing to match amounts raised. On May 6, they took advantage of The Seattle Foundation’s GiveBIG to get donations matched, putting their overall total at nearly $14,000. They recently made 2,000 more cards, so they will continue to sell and donate.

“A lot of people who do a little bit can make a difference,” Hecht said. “We want people to remember it’s not OK up there.”

People have asked why she’s continuing the fundraising efforts, Hecht said. She doesn’t think they understand the area “is never going to be the same.”

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