There are many soldiers that long to be home for the holidays with their families, but are still abroad or are recovering in hospitals after being wounded in the line of duty.  “Holiday Mail for Heroes” with the American Red Cross is an easy way for us to let them know we’re thinking of them and thank them for their sacrifices for our freedom.  You are encouraged to sign a holiday card that will be sent to a military member or wounded warrior.

I know we have a lot of crafty card makers in the Northland and the deadline to get the cards to the American Red Cross isn't until December 6.  There's plenty of time to create and send cards to service members, veterans and their families who will be thrilled to receive cards across the country and around the world.

Your personal messages send that touch of home and a sense of family many of our troops long for during the holiday season. Each year the American Red Cross provides assistance to more than 2 million service members and many of our nation’s 24 million veterans. During the holidays they get the joy of delivering holiday cards to veterans, military families and active-duty service members at hospitals and installations around the world.  You can be part of that!

 

CARD GUIDELINES:

Every card received will be screened for hazardous materials by Pitney Bowes and then reviewed by Red Cross volunteers working around the country.

Please observe the following guidelines to ensure a quick reviewing process:

  • Ensure that all cards are signed.
  • Use generic salutations such as “Dear Service Member.” Cards addressed to specific individuals can not be delivered through this program.
  • Only cards are being accepted. Do not send or include letters.
  • Do not include email or home addresses on the cards: the program is not meant to foster pen pal relationships.
  • Do not include inserts of any kind, including photos: these items will be removed during the reviewing process.
  • Please refrain from choosing cards with glitter or using loose glitter as it can aggravate health issues of ill and injured warriors.
  • If you are mailing a large quantity of cards, please bundle them and place them in large mailing envelopes or flat rate postal shipping boxes. Each card does not need its own envelope, as envelopes will be removed from all cards before distribution.

All holiday greetings should be addressed and sent to:

Holiday Mail for Heroes, P.O. Box 5456,  Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

The deadline for having cards to the P.O. Box is December 6th.

Holiday cards received after this date cannot be guaranteed delivery.

 

More From B105