Holiday Mail for Heroes
Holiday Mail For Heroes is here again! This year, we are teaming up with our friends at Pitney Bowes for the third time to send holiday cards to service members, veterans, and their families. This is a great way to give back this holiday season – by sharing your kind words and thanks with those who have given a great deal to their country.
We will begin accepting cards on November 2nd. Send in your cards to the address below, and please read the guidelines carefully!
Holiday Mail For Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456
All cards must be received no later than Monday, December 7th. Cards received after this date will unfortunately be returned to the sender. This deadline ensures enough time to sort and distribute cards before the holidays.
After the mailbox closes, the cards we received will be screened for hazardous materials by Pitney Bowes and then reviewed by Red Cross volunteers working around the country. Then, the cards are sent out to recipients in time for the holidays.
This year, we are excited to partner with the talented Amy Grant. Amy is also a member of our celebrity cabinet. In her words,
“I am honored and thrilled to be a part of the Holiday Mail for Heroes program. [...] The service that our military men and women provide this country year-round is invaluable and I feel it is especially important to give thanks for their sacrifices during the holiday season.”
Amy will be joining us for our special kick-off event on November 11th, Veteran’s Day- watch this blog for updates.
We’ve had great turnouts the past two years, and look forward to another great year!
You can also do more than send in cards. Our holiday gift catalog lists several different contributions you can make to provide much-needed items for service members, such as phone cards and “comfort kits”.
If you are a blogger or website owner who is interested in showing your support this year, below are some resources you can use and follow. There is also a Holiday Mail for Heroes resource page up on our website that will contain more news and information as it happens.
Twitter
Watch the #holidaymail hashtag on Twitter, and use the hashtag when you talk about the program!
Contact us at @RedCross and Pitney Bowes at @Mail4Heroes with questions or comments! We will be posting information and news on Twitter.
Youtube
We will be updating our Youtube channel regularly. Check out our Services to the Armed Forces playlist in particular for videos from our Holiday Mail for Heroes events!
Flickr
Our Holiday Mail 2009 set on Flickr will also be continuously updated as we gather more photos from our chapters and official events. Click here to see last year’s photos. All Flickr photos are available for you to use for personal (not commercial) purposes – just make sure to link back to our Flickr page!
Website Buttons
Here are some buttons and banners you can use on your own sites to support the program! Below each image is the code that will allow you to insert it into a website with a link back to the Red Cross Holiday Mail for Heroes resource page.
Copy this code to put it on your site:
<a target="_blank" href="http://www.redcross.org/holidaymail"><img src="http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/holiday-mail-for-her_38b4ba.jpg" height="120" width="120"></a>
Copy this code to put it on your site:
<a target="_blank" href="http://www.redcross.org/holidaymail"><img src="http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/holiday-mail-for-her_38b518.jpg" height="200" width="170"></a>
Click image to see full size
Copy this code to put it on your site:
<a target="_blank" href="http://www.redcross.org/holidaymail"><img src="http://redcrosschat.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/holidaymailforheroes.jpg" height="100" width="700"></a>
[...] Bloggers, blog about the program. More info. in this post from the Red Cross blog. [...]
Should individual envelopes be included for each card?
[...] back, each from a different artist! The 11th card, if you choose to send one, will be sent to the “Holiday Mail for Heroes” program through the Red Cross. Simply title it “Dear Service Member, Family or Veteran” [...]
Greetings:
My name is Ry Zimmerman. I am on a mission and determined to bring quality and diversity together in gifts that reflect not only ourselves but the people that we buy them for.” Whether or not an individual supports the war in Iraq, it is certain that we all support our loved ones, & those who protect our virtues. “Our cards reflect life; meaning that everything we have been through will be artistically displayed on each and every card.” It is hard to believe that still in the 21st century the world has yet to fully embrace diversity. With this in mind and passion in our hearts, brother and sister team, Ry and Gregg Zimmerman, founded Billets Doux “Love Letters”. Billets Doux is a multicultural greeting card and luxury gift company also, featuring Handmade designs by Ry. Our Braveheart Collection is a great way to honor those who are present and those who have passed.
Spread Awareness, Support and Love to our True Heroes of our country. God Bless. My deepest gratitude and respect.
Ry Zimmerman Billets Doux ~ Ry’s “Love Letters”
http://www.rysloveletters.com/braveheart
Complete Greeting Card Collection: http://www.rysloveletters.com/watch_-_video
[...] Holiday Mail For Heroes – Start sending your cards now! [...]
I think you have the dimensions reversed in the html for the Holiday Mail for Heroes banner –
the site currently shows
but it should be height=”100″ width=”700″
Thanks for the catch! I have fixed the code above.
[...] Holiday Mail for Heroes (American Red Cross) Give 2 The Troops Any Soldier AAFES (Gift cards/certificates and phone cards for soldiers) [...]
When sending 15 cards in one larger envelope, should we seal the envelopes? Just wondering if you will have to open each envelope to screen the cards or if the cards can be screened in a closed envelope. Thanks!
P.S. This is a great program. My husband is currently serving in Iraq and any “real mail” from home is always appreciated by the soldiers.
Kristen,
The cards are all individually inspected, so technically, you don’t even have to include a sealed card envelope. You can just put them all in a mailing envelope. Thanks!
Hi,
I was wondering if there would be anyway for you to let me know when you receive our envelope of cards? My husband and I sent about 28 and our son sent around 18 or 20. Our son is 9 and he sat down with me on a weekend and took his markers and notebook paper to make cards to be mailed with ours. He also trimmed the edges of the paper so the pages wouldn’t stick together. I know this is an odd request but he is about to jump through the ceiling to find out if they have arrived yet. I know you all are very busy and have a lot of mail to sort through. We are from Mississippi and we are Don, Cindy and Dillon Myers. Thank you so much for even considering my request and thank you for all you do. We are so blessed to have you and I would like to personally thank you for your help during and after Hurricane Katrina. Thank you again and may God bless you all and your families.
Cindy Myers Gulfport, MS.
I am seeing conflicting information in the websites dealing with the program this year. Do the cards need to be POSTMARKED by Dec. 7th or do they need to be RECEIVED by Dec. 7th?
Thanks and God bless!
What about Jewish Soldiers?
I would be interested in finding out more about this?
While I’m not with the Red Cross, I am with an organization that will be making a project out of sending cards, and when it says “Holiday mail”, not “Christmas mail”, that says to me that Hanukkah cards will be as useful and needed as Christmas cards. We have a Jewish lady in our organization and I’m sure she’ll do some Hanukkah cards. So, Dinah, if you are Jewish and want to send Hanukkah cards, I think it’s safe to say that they’ll be a blessing to every Jewish soldier who receives them!
Cindy – Thanks for your comment! Unfortunately, since all the cards are sent to Pitney Bowes for screening and then shipped back out to various Red Cross chapters for distribution, there is no reliable way to track a specific card.
Shari – The cards need to be received by December 7th. Thank you for pointing out the conflicting information – the info above now corresponds with info on the website.
Dinah – Religious themed cards will be sorted and delivered to appropriate recipients. Thank you!
Q: If you glue a group picture to inside of card… Is that considered an Insert?
[...] She turned 64 this week, why is she famous? Leave your answer in the comments. I talked about Holiday Mail For Heroes – follow that link to participate. Big thanks to Paul “Prying1″ Young, co-host [...]
[...] Here is a link to the Red Cross Program Holiday Mail for Heroes [...]
I want to insert a prepaid calling card w/my Christmas cards. I am sending 100, do I need to seal the envelopes? I will be sending the cards in a priority mail box. I was told if I purchase domestic calling cards the bases overseas are on D S N ??? PLEASE ADVISE ASAP. Thank you. Carole Lawson
I will be inserting prepaid calling cards w/Christmas cards (100). Do I need to seal the envelopes? I am sending the cards in a priority mail box. I was told I can purchase domestic calling cards as most bases overseas have D S N???? Please advise ASAP. Thank you, Carole Lawson
I just placed your banner on the front page of my website; although I did have to adjust the width. As a military spouse; I know first hand how important mail from home is to everyone currently serving away from their family. No matter you position on the war itself; each of us should support the Men and Women who are serving our country.
Dan – A group picture glued to the card is fine, as long as it isn’t a group made up entirely of kids (minors). Thanks!
Carole – Thanks so much for your generosity. We certainly welcome your cards but unfortunately, security regulations don’t allow us to accept items that have been inserted in to the cards. If you have the calling cards already, you might want to donate them to a local National Guard Unit, military installation or Red Cross chapter. If you want to purchase calling cards for troops, you can do so by going to http://www.aafes.com. Thanks again and we appreciate your support of Holiday Mail for Heroes.
My husband (retired Army) and I are so thrilled that this program is on for this year, too. I hope there’s no limit to the number of cards that I can send as I buy discounted cards all year just for this opportunity to ensure our troops that we love the, pray for them and are in awe of their sacrifices for America. Hooah!!!!
[...] "Holiday Mail For Heroes" Only a few days left to send holiday cards to the Red Cross to be distributed to soldiers, veterans and military families. Follow the instructions at this link: ? Holiday Mail for Heroes [...]
I am using this as a project for my Sunday School children. We pray for our troops every Sunday at the Arlington United Methodist Church in Arlington, TN! We are proud of all of our troops! God Bless you all!
My grandmother, deceased now, encouraged all the grandchildren to save the front of Christmas cards from one year and mail them as postcards for soldiers (active, wounded, etc) the following Christmas. I have several of these “postcards” at home and would love to continue this tradition. My question is: The card fronts/postcards are various sizes…will they all work? Is this an acceptable medium? Thanks in advance.
[...] decided to send some of them with a different recipient in mind. The Red Cross has started the Holiday Mail for Heroes program which gives Americans the opportunity to send holiday mail to soldiers serving in the wars [...]
[...] around the country. Then, the cards are sent out to recipients in time for the holidays. Click HERE to read the entire article and see all associated [...]
I want to wish all the men and women overseas, and still here waiting to go over like my son. A very happy holidays and prayers for a safe return very soon.
Leslie – What a great tradition! Postcards of various sizes should be okay. You can write on the back of them and bundle them together in one mailing envelope just as you would with regular cards.
We are free to practice religion because of the work you do.
God bless all of you.
My prays are with all of you.
[...] back, each from a different artist! The 11th card, if you choose to send one, will be sent to the “Holiday Mail for Heroes” program through the Red Cross. Simply title it “Dear Service Member, Family or Veteran” [...]
Since you changed the deadline that the cards must be RECEIVED by 12/7/2009, I don’t know when mine should be sent by, to ensure arrival by 12/7. I live in Buffalo, NY. Any ideas?
Suzanne – if you postmark your cards by the 5th they should arrive in time. Thank you!
[...] http://redcrosschat.org/2009/10/27/holiday-mail-for-heroes-2/ [...]
[...] you’d like to send a soldier a card this holiday season, click here. Cards must be submitted by December [...]
[...] Red Cross Holiday Mail For Heroes [...]
[...] that is the real thing. But there isn’t much time. Through the American red Cross, we have Holiday Mail for Heroes. Holiday Mail For Heroes is here again! This year, we are teaming up with our friends at Pitney [...]
just now seeing the date change from postmarked by December 7th to received by December 7th– we are planning a big church card signing on the 6th to get them in the mail by the 7th. Now it sounds like that won’t work. yikes! please, oh please put out accurate info everywhere from the start. very disappointing.
[...] Holiday Mail for Heroes info via Red Cross: http://redcrosschat.org/2009/10/27/holiday-mail-for-heroes-2/ [...]
Marie – I’m very sorry for the confusion. Our goal is ensure the distribution of the cards during the holiday season and that’s why we need to have the cards into the P.O. Box by December 7th. With that said, we encourage you to continue with your plans to have the card signing event and mail them in. We will do our best to get them delivered in time for the holiday.
HOORAY and thank you so much! we are all looking forward to blessing those who bless us. Thank you for the response-I will sent them out Monday morning.
Happy Holidays Everyone! Great Job!!!
I also placed your banner on the front page of my website; as well as pages pertaining to the Military. As a greeting card designer I know first hand how important mail from especially “home” is. Something magical happens when you put pen to paper. You open up, breathe a little easier, and even find yourself being more honest and forgiving. Discover what’s on your mind & in your ? Have courage. Write from deep within your ? the place where fear hides and tenderness lies.
Whether or not you as an individual support the war in Iraq, it is certain that we all support our loved ones, & those who protect our virtues. Our Braveheart collection was designed to do just that; honor those who are present and those who have passed.
Running out of time! No problem! We will Mail your card for you!
Share your kind words & give thanks with those who have given a great deal to their country. Email me with questions regarding your order or how to help & get involved. http://rysloveletters.com/braveheart
Dinah Abrahamson: Jewish Greetings
http://rysloveletters.com/watch_-_video
Billets Doux “Love Letters” is a multicultural greeting card & luxury gift company. We have designs available for “All” Cultures, & Religions. We also design handmade custom cards. Perhaps of your loved one? If you have any questions just email me. Happy Holidays to you & your family! Ry
Love: It doesn’t matter who or what… just Love; as
Love is infallible.
[...] been impressed and thankful for the incredible response from all of you regarding our Holiday Mail for Heroes program! Yesterday marked the close of the mail-in period – the mailbox will remain open for cards still [...]
[...] The correct address is in this American Red Cross page, but note that the deadline was December 7. Holiday Mail for Heroes __________________ Forum Rules: http://ingunowners.com/forums/introd…e_posting.html [...]
I’d like to see your “Holiday Mail for Heroes” be extended *beyond* December 7th… Admittedly, I do not know know the logistics of the program, but as a retired military member who’s received mail through various programs, I can tell you that mail received AFTER the holidays is also greatly appreciated…
I’m so sad I missed the deadline
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[...] American Red Cross Cards for Heroes [...]
This is agreat idea and I hope that next christmass you’ll continue this tradition and I could send a holiday mail for our heros.
I am so glad that the red cross was able to see a success with this and i hope that next Christmas you will continue with this idea, I think it’s worthy of mention and support.
I am a family law attorney and learning so much from reading your website. Thanks again!