It Takes a Lot of Volunteers to Sort a Million Cards
Wednesday, December 24, 2008 — Unexpected mail brought smiles to more than a million faces this holiday season. That's because hundreds of thousands of people took the time to send a card to America's wounded warriors, men and women on active duty, military families and veterans.
Cards traveled from senders to a Pitney Bowes mail center, where each card was screened and reviewed by Red Cross volunteers working in one of 17 sorting stations around the country.
The scene at the American Red Cross national headquarters was bustling with hundreds of volunteers—some famous, some anonymous—coming together to recognize our military and the sacrifices they make on our behalf. The same heartwarming scene was repeated 16 more times across the nation. It takes a lot of volunteers to sort a million cards.
First Lady Laura Bush volunteered and spent one of her Saturday mornings at the Red Cross signing and sorting holiday cards. Murray Martin, President and CEO of Pitney Bowes; Red Cross Chairman Bonnie McElveen-Hunter; and Red Cross President and CEO Gail McGovern did the same.
Dozens of volunteers also spent their Saturday morning sorting holiday cards. "Oh, look at this one," someone shouts, passing the card around the table. Another reads aloud the message penned by an appreciative American, "Thank you for keeping my family safe."
Chatter and cheer fill the room. Many sorting tables are filled with groups of friends or work colleagues.
Pitney Bowes Government Solutions and Pitney Bowes Management Services personnel spoke of the impact two large organizations can make with they get together. "This morning we're lighting a candle rather than cursing the darkness," one Pitney Bowes employee offered.
A team from PriceWaterhouseCoopers that provides project management support to Base Realignment and Closure initiatives was also there to volunteer; several members of the team are also active volunteers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
At another sorting table sat a group of volunteers from One Brick, along with One Brick manager Geoff Nelson. Web-based One Brick brings volunteers together to support other local non-profit organizations, while fostering an environment in which to meet new people, both socially and professionally.
Seventeen members of the George Washington University Veterans Club came out to help, as did members of the Army Officers Wives Club of the Greater Washington Area.
As she was leaving to return to the White House, First Lady Laura Bush walked around the sorting room, shaking hands and saying thank you. "There is something very sweet about the fellowship in this room," Mrs. Bush observed. "Doing things to help other people is such an important part of the holiday season."
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.
