Holiday Mail for Heroes 2011

It's that time of year again. A time when I ask my fellow bloggers, readers, and facebookers to open your heart. I'm not asking alot. The only monetary contribution needed from you is postage. It's the Holiday Mail for Heroes program through the American Red Cross. All I ask, is that each one of you send two cards following this program, for our soldiers over-seas. Two. 

These soldiers are spending the holiday (for many, it's not their first one) away from their friends and family. These Dads, Moms, Daughters, and Husbands will not at home for the holidays. War doesn't take Christmas off. A simple card can help ease the heartache for these young men & women who are serving their country for YOUR freedom. Two cards. It's not alot I'm asking for.

If you have children in school, it would be a wonderful project for the entire class! Contact their teacher. I did last year, and one school sent almost 200 cards. The other even more! (Here's my post from last year) Thank you very much everyone!

The following is from the American Red Cross website, and details the program.

Holiday Mail for Heroes Program

The holiday season is just around the corner and it’s time again to start thinking about being part of the 2011 American Red Cross Holiday Mail for Heroes. For a fifth year, American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes are partnering to ensure all Americans have an opportunity to send a touch of home this holiday season to members of our U.S. military, veterans and their families, many of whom will be far away from home this holiday season.

Starting this fall and throughout the holiday season, the Red Cross is working with Pitney Bowes, a mail stream technology company, to collect and distribute holiday cards to American service members, veterans and their families in the United States and around the world.

The process is very simple and takes no time at all - All you need is a pen and piece of paper to share your appreciation for the sacrifices members of the U.S. Armed Forces make to protect our freedoms The Holiday Mail for Heroes mail box is open and ready to receive for your cards.

Please send all mail to:

Holiday Mail For Heroes

P.O. Box 5456

Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

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.

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.
• Participants should limit the number of cards they submit to 25 from any one person or 50 from any one class or group. If you are mailing a large quantity, please bundle the cards and place them in large mailing envelopes. Each card does not need its own envelope, as envelopes will be removed from all cards 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.

The Military Families Ministry (MFM) also has their Stocking for Soldiers project. Blog post is here for those in Colorado & Pennsylvania.

House-Wise

"Make yourself at home"