It’s that time of year again when you log on to Facebook and have 47 pending event requests. We all know what the requests are for: dancer mail.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, or simply need some help with cheering on your dancing friends, we have your quick and easy guide to making and sending dancer mail.

1. Gather your supplies.

You can’t just make dancer mail for your friends on standard college-ruled white paper with a black pen. Well, you could, but we suggest you go all out. You can send either cards or packages, but make sure the packages are only as large as a shoebox. As for decorating, you’ll need envelopes or a shoebox, construction paper, glue, markers, glitter, and stickers, though these are just a few of the things you could use. However, if crayons and printer paper are all you could find in your roommate’s craft box, then you can definitely still make it work.

2. Address it carefully and properly.

You are going to want to make sure your dancer’s number and name are clearly visible on the envelope or box. This step is obvious, but crucial — if the number is incorrect, it may not be delivered to your dancer during mail call.

3. Decorate the envelope or package.

The outside of the package is just as vital as the inside. If you want your dancer to feel the warmth and love you put into the inside of the letter or package, be sure to decorate the outside in an equally colorful and supportive fashion.

4. Fill the card or box with your support.

In a card, it is best to write an inspirational quote or a motivational saying that is going to keep your dancer going during the weekend. After the quote, you can (and should) add more decorations that you think your dancer will appreciate, like glitter and stickers.

If you’re making a package, you can fill the package with whatever you want! It could be a note with a memory you have together, coloring books and crayons, or even a picture of the two of you. Basically anything is acceptable — just make sure you don’t put caffeine in the box. No matter how much your dancer loves coffee or energy drinks, no caffeine. NO CAFFEINE.

5. Deliver your mail.

After  you have finished the piles upon piles of dancer mail for all 47 of those pending event requests, you need to deliver the mail. All letters should go to 324 HUB and all packages should go to 327 HUB by 7 p.m. next Thursday, Feb. 12.

If you happen to be legitimately mailing your dancer mail instead of dropping it off, be sure to put it in the mailbox by Tuesday, Feb. 10 — or really, the night before so it’s postmarked in time — and address it to:

Attn: Mail Call
Dancer Number, Dancer Name
210 Hetzel Union Building (HUB)
University Park, PA 16802

There you go. It might seem like a lot of work, but making dancer mail gives you an opportunity to get creative, and your dancing friends are definitely going to appreciate it during the later, difficult hours of THON. And just think about it this way — after you have delivered your mail, you are one step closer to THON 2015!

Photo: Eric Weiss/Onward State