Holiday Mail for Heroes

 

For the fifth year the American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes will partner together for the Holiday Mail for Heroes program. The program is designed to empower everyday Americans to "share a piece of home" with our service men and women as a way of thanking them for their sacrifice.

The American Red Cross of Central Texas is inviting the community to participate in Holiday Mail for Heroes. From now until December 9 the public is invited to send cards encouragement and thanks to our service members, veterans and their families. Please send all mail to:

Holiday Mail For Heroes

P.O. Box 5456

Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

This year the American Red Cross is partnering with Simon Malls once again. Cards for soldiers can be dropped of at any of these Simon Mall Austin locations:    

• Barton Creek Square Mall- 2901 S. Capital of Texas Hwy.
• Lakeline Mall- 11200 Lakeline Mall Drive
• The Domain- 11410 Century Oaks Terrace, Suite 210

For more information about Holiday Mail for Heroes and specific guidelines please visit www.redcross/holidaymail.com

You can also connect with other card-senders by using the Twitter http://www.twitter.com/centexredcross  hashtag #holidaymail.

JACKSON WALKER L.L.P. SIGNS ON TO SPONSOR HEROES OF CENTRAL TEXAS

Jackson Walker L.L.P., one of the oldest and largest Texas based law firms with offices in Austin, has reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the American Red Cross of Central Texas by becoming an Award Sponsor for the 2010 Heroes of Central Texas Celebration to be held during March is Red Cross Month.  Firm partner Stacy Allen is currently serving as Chairman of the ARC Board. Their $5,000.00 sponsorship goes directly back into the community, supporting our programs including Emergency Services, Services to Armed Forces, Disaster Preparedness, and health and safety classes.  Thank you Jackson Walker, for your ongoing support!

HOLIDAY MAIL FOR HEROES

Check out Fox's coverage!
Serving members of the military and their families was the first mission of the American Red Cross more than 125 years ago. And as we remember those who serve on Veteran’s Day, it remains a core part of the Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) mission today. Just one of the essential military services provided by the American Red Cross is the Holiday Mail for Heroes program.

For the second year in a row, the Red Cross is partnering with Pitney Bowes to collect one million holiday cards for American service members, veterans and their families in the United States and around the world. 

Those who would like to send holiday greetings to military members serving around the world, veterans and their families are asked to mail cards to: 

Holiday Mail for Heroes 

P.O. Box 5456 

Capital Heights, MD 20791-5456

Red Cross volunteers will be on hand to sort and mail the holiday cards and to ensure that every effort is made to send warm wishes and support to military members serving around the world as well as their families who will be without their loved ones during the holidays.
Providing support to military members is a daily task for the American Red Cross of Central Texas (ARCCT). 

The ARCCT provides communication services to military members in times of crisis and important events by contacting family members living in the Central Texas area. These communications are delivered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year through the work of volunteers. The ARCCT also provides counseling and referrals to military families at an average of three families per day, all free of charge. All services are made possible by the generous support of Central Texas citizens through their dollars and volunteer time.

Holiday Mail for the Heroes kicks off future Service to the Armed Forces programs from the American Red Cross of Central Texas. Stay tuned for more information.

HOLIDAY MAIL FOR HEROES TO DELIVER GREETINGS TO U.S. MILITARY MEMBERS AND VETERANS

In this season of hope and giving, the American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes Inc. have joined forces again to invite the public to "send a touch of home" to United States service members and veterans across the country and abroad through the Holiday Mail for Heroes campaign.

Now in its third year, the Holiday Mail for Heroes program provides Americans with the opportunity to extend holiday greetings and thanks to service members and veterans. Last year the program received more than 1.4 million cards for military men and women, their families and veterans. Our chapter processed 50,000 of the cards for this program.

The public can participate in the campaign by sending holiday cards with personal messages to a special post office box from Monday, November 2 through Monday, December 7. The Red Cross and Pitney Bowes will then screen cards for hazardous materials, sort and package the cards, and deliver them to military bases and hospitals, veteran`s hospitals and other locations in the U.S. and abroad during the holidays. Pitney Bowes is providing all screening, packaging and shipping at no charge, as well as providing thousands of volunteer hours around the country. The Red Cross will utilize volunteers at over 300 participating chapters nationwide to sort and deliver greetings to military and veteran`s hospitals and military bases in November and December.

"The United States currently has 1.4 million active duty members, reservists and guards serving within our borders and abroad. Additionally more than 24 million veterans have faithfully served our country in the past," notes Sherri Brown, Sr. Vice President of Service to the Armed Forces at the American Red Cross. "With increased chapter participation this year we hope to reach many more service members and veterans who may be spending this holiday season away from home or without loved ones," says Brown.

"The men and women who serve our country in uniform deserve our thanks every single day, and sending just one card is all it takes to make a difference in the life of one of our nation`s heroes," said Jon Love, President of Pitney Bowes Government Solutions. "We are honored to participate in this important initiative again with the American Red Cross and look forward to helping the public say happy holidays and thank you."

Holiday cards should be addressed and sent to:

Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

Please be sure to affix adequate postage. Cards must be received no later than December 7. Cards received after this date will be returned to senders. For reasons of processing and safety, participants are asked to refrain from sending "care packages," monetary gifts, using glitter or including any inserts with the cards.

GIVING A "HERO" A HELPING HAND

GIVING A "HERO" A HELPING HAND
A Breath of Life Benefit Auction
May 5th, 2009, 6-10pm
Hills Cafe - 4700 South Congress Avenue
Featuring great entertainment by Gary P. Nunn, Bill Rice Band, Austin Collins and more!

"It's like the saying "be the difference you want to see in the world"… I want to leave a mark on this world… I want to make a difference!"-Amberlyn Fett

Help past Hero of Central Texas award winner Amberlyn Fett as she celebrates life while waiting for a double lung transplant.
Read all about Amberlyn's story and make a donation...