There is a growing tendency for people to send cards reflecting a donation to some charitable institution -- not even necessarily for matanot l'evyonim -- in lieu of giving mishlo'ach manot. This, to me, somewhat misses the point. Not to say that tzedakah is not a significant mitzvah but Torah is far from monolithic and each mitzvah has its own significance. There is a reason behind mishlo'ach manot and its significance may be becoming lost.
I wrote more on this in my latest Tribune article at
http://www.jewishtribune.ca/TribuneV2/index.php/201002242677/Community-building.html
Rabbi Ben Hecht
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