Christmas Cards for Soldiers

Kindness Project: Christmas Cards for Soldiers

An easy and inexpensive way to show some Christmas Kindness this year would be to send some Christmas cards to our U.S. military, veterans and their families, many of whom will be far away from home this holiday season. The Red Cross is collecting and distributing Christmas cards to American service members, veterans and their families in the United States and around the world for their Annual Holiday Mail for Heroes Drive. Sending a “touch of home” to American men and women who serve our country is the perfect way to express your appreciation and support during the holiday season.  There are some guidelines you need to be aware of below.  For instance, do not use cards with glitter because some cards will be given to wounded soliders.

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:

• All cards being sent in for 2011 Holiday Mail For Heroes program should be postmarked no later than Friday, December 9, 2011.
• 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 letters.
• Do not include email or home addresses on the cards, as the program is not meant to foster pen pal relationships.
• Do not include inserts of any kind, including photos, as these items will be removed during the reviewing process.
• We encourage participants to mail as many cards as they are comfortable sending. If you are mailing a large quantity, please bundle the cards and place them in large mailing envelopes or use a flat rate box from the post office. Each card does not need its own envelope, as cards will be removed from all envelopes before distribution.
• Please refrain from sending holiday cards with glitter. Many of these cards will be delivered to military and veterans medical facilities and the glitter could interfere with a patient's recovery

      Mail Cards to:
         Holiday Mail For Heroes
         P.O. Box 5456
         Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

         For more information visit: Holiday Mail for Heroes Website