As families nationwide prepare for the holidays, the American Red Cross San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter is making sure members and veterans of the U.S. military receive some holiday cheer with their Holiday Mail for Heroes program.
The program collects cards from communities and distributes them to members of the military, veterans and their families to show appreciation for their service.
“The Red Cross relies on the support of the American people to carry out its mission of service to the two million members of the U.S. Armed Forces, 24 million veterans and their families,” a Red Cross press release stated.
Members of a different kind of troop, the Brawley Girl Scout Troop 7078, has already signed more than 2,000 holiday wishes for the program. The Girl Scout troop has been sending holiday cards to the military for five years now.
About 20 girls from several Brawley Girl Scouts troops gathered for hours one morning in October to sign the cards along with four members of the Brawley National Guard.
“The girls feel that there’s a lot of troops that don’t have any family with them, and they need to know they’re appreciated,” Troop 7078 Leader Carol Sassie said. “It’s fun and just a good time, because you know as many times as you say thank you and write your name, it will go to a guy or girl who will appreciate it.”
Troop member Cali Sassie, 15, said she wrote messages such as “keep safe” and “everyone’s praying for you” on the cards.
“It was a lot of fun supporting our troops and making sure they’re loved during the holidays,” she said. “It’s so they don’t give up hope … so they know people care for them and they make it through the holidays.”
It’s the sixth year for the program by the Red Cross and business services company Pitney Bowes.
People can still send in cards until Dec. 7. All mail should be sent to Holiday Mail for Heroes, P.O. Box 5456, Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456, and must be postmarked by Dec. 7.
After the Dec. 7 deadline, the Red Cross and Pitney Bowes will screen the cards, sort and package them and finally deliver them to military bases, hospitals, veteran hospitals and other locations.
Visit redcross.org/holidaymail for more information. People can also communicate with other card senders through Facebook at facebook.com/SDredcross and Twitter at Twitter.com/SDICredcross using the hashtag “#holidaymail.”
Staff Writer Chelcey Adami can be reached at 760-337-3452 or cadami@ivpressonline.com
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