The holiday season is just around the corner and it’s time to think about our U.S. military members and veterans with the American Red Cross Holiday Mail for Heroes program. For the fifth year, American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes are partnering to ensure all Americans have an opportunity to send a touch of home this holiday season to members here and abroad.

Between now and December 9th the Red Cross is working together with Pitney Bowes, a mail stream technology company, to collect and distribute holiday cards to American service members and veterans.

The process is very simple and takes no time at all - All you need is a pen and piece of paper to share your appreciation for the sacrifices members of the U.S. Armed Forces make to protect our freedoms. The Holiday Mail for Heroes mail box is open and ready to receive your cards. Please send all mail to:

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

Sending a “touch of home” to American men and women who serve our country is the perfect way to express your appreciation and support during the holiday season.

Card Guidelines:
Every card received will be screened for hazardous materials by Pitney Bowes and then reviewed by Red Cross volunteers working around the country.

Please observe the following guidelines to ensure a quick reviewing process:

• Include your heartfelt sentiments and sign all cards.  Use generic salutation such as “Dear Service Member” or “Dear Veteran”.  Cards addressed to specific individuals can not be delivered through this program.
• Only cards are being accepted. Do not send letters.
• Do not include personal information such as email or home addresses on the cards, as the program is not meant to foster pen pal relationships.
• Do not include inserts of any kind, including photos, as these items will be removed during the reviewing process.
• Do not use glitter or like materials - excessive amounts can aggravate health issues of wounded recipients
• If you are mailing a large quantity, please bundle the 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.

The American Red Cross relies on the generosity of everyday Americans to carry out its mission of service to the over 2 million members of the U.S. Armed Forces, the National Guard and Reserves and many of our nation’s 24 million veterans and their families.
   
Red Cross supports service members and their families before, during and after deployments. It prepares families for the realities of deployment with educational courses and resources and keeps families in touch during emergencies with its global communication services.
   
The Red Cross also provides comfort and support to wounded warriors, veterans and their families in military and veterans’ hospitals stateside and abroad.

Supporting Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces work is simple and we encourage you to click, call or text to make a financial donation.