the homefront blog

Holiday Mail for Heroes is The Red Cross’s website REPLACEMENT for the false email once again circulating; that email suggests that holiday cards be sent to a Walter Reed Hospital address. Please do NOT do that and if you receive the email, reply to all with a link to this post or the Red Cross website to direct them to the proper information. This program is NOT AFFILIATED with Cards for Heroes, however we’re doing our part to help get the correct information out there!

The Red Cross card restrictions are NOT the same as CFH’s; these cards are distributed to vets and families stateside, CFH’s go to deployed heroes; their card deadline is Dec 10, CFH’s AnyHero Christmas card deadline is Dec 1st.

This is a short version of the extensive information on their site, Holiday Mail for Heroes.

Holiday Mail for Heroes (Red Cross Program)

From the front lines to the home front, the American Red Cross provides service members, their families and veterans with the care and assistance they need.

The Red Cross is partnering with Pitney Bowes this holiday season for the Holiday Mail for Heroes campaign. For the second year in a row, they’re collecting holiday cards to distribute to American service members, veterans and their families in the United States and around the world. Pitney Bowes is generously donating technology, resources and postage to make this holiday card program possible.

The goal is to collect and distribute one million holiday cards to spread holiday cheer and facilitate thanks to these brave individuals and families.

Please send cards to this address, following the guidelines listed below:

Holiday Mail for Heroes
PO Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

You can also learn about other ways to participate and get the latest news on their site, Holiday Mail for Heroes.

Holiday Mail for Heroes Card Guidelines

Please follow these guidelines when mailing a card to ensure that your card will quickly reach service members, veterans and their families. Every card received will first be screened for hazardous materials by Pitney Bowes and then reviewed by Red Cross volunteers working in one of 16 sorting stations around the country.

* All cards must be postmarked no later than Wednesday, December 10, 2008. Cards sent after this date will be returned to sender.
* Please ensure that all cards are signed.
* Please send cards as opposed to long letters which delay a quick review process.
* Please do not include email or home addresses on the cards, as the program is NOT meant to foster pen pal relationships.
* Please do not include inserts of any kind, including photos, as these items will be removed during the reviewing process.
* Participants should limit the number of cards they submit to 25 from any one person or 50 from any one class or group.
* All cards received may be used in program publicity efforts, including appearing in broadcast, print or online mediums.
* No ‘Care Packages’ or care package items will be accepted at this address.

Please feel free to share a link to this post with your email lists—the sooner we get the correct information out there, the sooner that old incorrect email will pass away into Snopes history! We will place a link to this post at the top of all of our CFH posts throughout the holiday season, so you’ll have it for quick reference at the top of whatever post is up at that moment. Thank you!