‘Holiday Mail for Heroes’ program lets public send greeting cards to military members, families

**For the local American Red Cross is asking residents to spread holiday cheer to military service members, veterans and their families.
Starting in November through Dec. 7, central Illinoisans can participate in Holiday Mail for Heroes, a joint effort by the Red Cross and Pitney Bowes. The program enables the public to send a supportive message to members of our U.S. Armed Forces, veterans and their families, many of whom will be far from home during the holidays.

“It’s a great way to express support for those men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country,” said Harley Jones, who directs emergency services at the Red Cross Central Illinois Chapter.
The public can send cards to a special P.O. Box. Later, American Red Cross volunteers – including those from the Peoria-based Central Illinois Chapter — will help sort process and send cards to the military.
“The local Red Cross is really pumped to participate in this program,” Jones said. “We know that central Illinois residents strongly support our Armed Forces, and we expect they’ll keep our volunteers busy sorting.”

This marks the third year that the Red Cross and Pitney Bowes have teamed up for Holiday Mail for Heroes.

How to participate
1. Get a greeting card.
–Participants are encouraged to send holiday-neutral cards rather than religious-themed cards.
–Only cards are accepted, not letters.
–Limit the number of cards to 15 from any one person or 50 from any one class, business or group. If you are mailing a large quantity, please bundle 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.
2. Write a general, supportive message inside the card. The first line should read, “Dear Service Member, Family or Veteran.”
–Cards addressed to specific individuals cannot be delivered through this program.
3. Sign your card.
–Please do not include e-mail or home addresses on the cards, as the program is not meant to foster pen pal relationships.
4. Postmark your card no later than Dec. 7, 2009, and send it to:
Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

–For the safety of our troops and their families, do not send or drop off cards at the Red Cross. Cards will only be accepted at P.O. Box 5456, so that Pitney Bowes can screen mail for hazardous materials.

More about Red Cross services to U.S. armed forces
The first mission of the American Red Cross was serving members of the military and their families. Nearly 125 years later, services to the Armed Forces remains a core part of the Red Cross mission.
Emergency communications: The birth of a baby. The loss of a loved one. A medical emergency. When major events happen in our lives — celebratory or solemn — family members need to know.

For the brave men and women serving in the U.S. armed forces, the Red Cross is there to relay urgent news to loved ones. The charity operates an around-the-world emergency communication network for military members, veterans and their families. This free service operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The Central Illinois Chapter currently helps link about 40 military families a month, including those who have relatives serving with the Peoria-based Air National Guard 182nd Airlift Wing.

“We will connect family members at midnight on Christmas Eve,” says Jones, emergency services director.

Additionally, Red Cross-verified information assists commanding officers in making decisions about whether to grant emergency leave.
To relay an emergency message, call the Red Cross 24-hour toll-free hotline at (800) 696-3873.

Other support: In 2008, the Red Cross Central Illinois Chapter formed a Service to Military Families Committee. The committee provides follow-up and referrals to people who have used Red Cross emergency communications.
The Chapter also:
• Provides military members access to emergency financial assistance.
• Distributes information during deployment briefings.
• Participates in local military events, such as Tee It Up for The Troops.
• Serves as a stocking-drive collection point for Operation Santa.