Your privacy

This exchange is run by volunteers for the members of Ellie’s Way Group. Here is what happens to your information.

Who can see what

Your mailing address is shown only to the members writing to you, to an Elf if one is asked to send you a card, and to the group admin. Each time the admin views an address, it’s recorded.
The people writing to you (including an Elf) also see your full name, your note for card writers, your special or hard days, your card choices, and your loved ones’ names if you chose to share them.
Members you write to see your first name and your state or country, for example “Betty in Ohio” or “Maeve in Galway, Ireland”.
The group admin can see everything you enter, including your Facebook name, to run the exchange and fix problems.
The Tree of Names shows names only if you chose to include them, and only to this year’s members once we’ve checked they’re in our Facebook group.
A thank‑you in your own words is shown only on this site, never in an email. A ready-made thank‑you note may be quoted in an email to the person you thank.
There are no member directories, no public lists, and no private messaging between members.

Addresses are encrypted in our database.
Sign-in pauses after a few wrong PINs. We’ll never ask for your PIN by text or email.
Emails never contain addresses, only a button to log in.
Emails are sent through a service called Resend. It sees only what it needs to deliver each message.

At the end of the season (the end of January), every mailing address is deleted automatically. Backups of deleted information disappear within 30 days.
Your name, email, loved ones’ names, note, special or hard days and card choices are kept for next year, until you delete your account. If your note mentions something private, it’s kept too. You can change or remove it any time in My details.
We also keep who wrote to whom, so you won’t get the same match twice.
You can delete your account from My account at any time, except while card lists are out. During that time, please message the group admin on Facebook.

Notifications on your phone or computer are sent only if you turn them on, and only for card dates.