'Holiday Mail for Heroes' Kicks Off October 1

Service members, veterans and their families will receive cards across the country and around the world courtesy of the annual program organized by the Red Cross. 

You can express your gratitude and best wishes for the holiday season to those who give the ultimate gift by mailing a Christmas or holiday card to:

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

“It just takes a moment to sign a card to share your appreciation for the sacrifices members of the military community make,” said Megarie van Sickel, CEO of the South West Florida Chapter of the Red Cross. “You say thanks, and we’ll do the rest.” 

Red Cross volunteers across the United States and on military installations overseas sort and deliver the cards throughout the holiday season. The organization has received and distributed more than 6.5 million cards for members of the U.S. Armed Forces, veterans and their families since the program began in 2006. 

To ensure that cards are delivered in time for the holidays, they must be postmarked no later than December 6!

The West Coast Region of the Red Cross will also be holding card making events and recruiting volunteers to help distribute cards to military members and veterans in the community around the holidays. 

Individuals are asked to refrain from sending letters, monetary donations, or any other kinds of inserts with the cards and from using glitter.

More information and card requirements can be found at redcross.org/holidaymail. 

The public can also share photos and videos of their card signing efforts or their holiday greeting for troops by using the hashtag #HolidayMail on their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Vine accounts. The Red Cross will use the material on its social sites through out the holiday season.  

The public also can connect with fellow card senders through Facebook.com/redcross and Twitter.com/redcross using the hashtag #holidaymail.