For a fifth year, the American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes Inc. are teaming up to deliver holiday cheer and greetings to service members, their families and veterans throughout the holiday season.
The Holiday Mail for Heroes program provides Americans the opportunity to send holiday greetings to men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces, the nation's veterans and their families.
Between Oct. 3 and Dec. 9, the public is invited to send a "touch of home" through holiday cards that contain messages of cheer and appreciation. The Red Cross and Pitney Bowes will then screen cards for hazardous materials, sort and package the cards, and deliver them to military bases and hospitals, veterans' hospitals and other locations during the holidays. Pitney Bowes is donating all screening, packaging and shipping to the cause. The Red Cross will mobilize hundreds of volunteers to sort and box cards for delivery to service men and women, veterans and family members in November and December.
"All you need is a pen and piece of paper to share your appreciation of the sacrifices our men and women in uniform make each day in their service to our country," said Beth Dewald, executive director of the American Red Cross' Buffalo Valley Chapter. "The American Red Cross serves and supports members of the military, veterans, and their families by providing emergency communications, educational resources, comfort and assistance each day. The Holiday Mail for Heroes program continues in the Red Cross tradition of service to those who serve."
This is the first year the Buffalo Valley Chapter has participated in the card program and will distribute the cards to local veterans and to soldiers who are currently deployed. To assist with the program, call 701-252-3550.
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Last year, with the help of Pitney Bowes, hundreds of volunteers screened, sorted and packaged cards that were delivered to military bases, veteran and military hospitals across the U.S. and around the world.
All holiday greetings should be addressed and sent to:
Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456
Cards must be postmarked no later than Dec. 9; cards received after this date will be returned to senders. For reasons of processing and safety, participants are asked to refrain from sending "care packages," monetary gifts, using glitter or including any inserts with the cards.
Visit the website redcross.org/holidaymail for a full list of recommended guidelines and best practices for the Holiday Mail for Heroes program.
Additional ways to become involved with the campaign include connecting with fellow card senders through Facebook at www.facebook.com/redcross and Twitter at www.twitter.com/redcross using the hashtag #holidaymail.
