Q. I sent my sponsored child some gifts in the mail (using a CFCA-approved mailing package and everything), but I never received any thank-you letters from her or any acknowledgement of my gift. How do I know she received it?
A. Depending on when you sent the item, an acknowledgment letter may have crossed in the mail.
If much time has passed, however, and you still havenít heard from your friend, try sending a letter asking her to let you know if she received your gifts. Make sure you describe the items and when you mailed them.
It’s also important to remember that cultural expectations for correspondence vary from country to country. CFCA works in many areas where oral traditions are the main way of communicating. Your friend may not have grown up with thank-you cards or other kinds of written correspondence.
Read the answer to a related Ask Sponsor Services question: Why do my child’s letters sound so impersonal?
A good tip when sending a gift to your friend: Include a note asking her to write you and let you know if she received your gift.
And remember, by following CFCA’s mailing guidelines, you lower the risk of the item becoming lost or stolen in the mail.
For some small gift ideas, check out 18 small gift ideas to send to your sponsored friend.
