This just popped up on my radar this morning. Evidently, the Red Cross does a program where they collect holiday cards and forward them to active service members in the military. I think that is cool. What could be harder than being away from family at Christmas? So it would be nice to honor those people by sending them a card. It isn’t a personal thing, you don’t address them to one person, just send them in to the Red Cross and they will forward your card onward.
The words Red Cross, above, are the link to the page where it explains the program, but if you are interested in sending a holiday card (really, it is just adding one extra card to your list), this is the information you need to know.
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Every card received will be screened for hazardous materials 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.
- THE DEADLINE TO SEND IN CARDS IS DECEMBER, 6, 2013
All holiday greetings should be addressed and sent to:
Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456
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If you feel like being a little extra generous this year, send a card to someone in the service. Photo cards are fine, too! Or have your kids make a card, that would be cute. I just wanted to share this because I had never heard of it before and I think it is a great program. I’m definitely sending a card…actually two, because I have two versions of my Christmas card this year.
And the season is upon us!
Livlife 