Help an Armed Forces Hero this Holiday Season

Holiday Mail for Heroes
You can help by writing a card, helping us sort and package cards, or distributing cards, as part of our Holiday Mail for Heroes program.

While military deployments and hospital stays may keep many of our nation’s heroes away from their families this holiday season, the American Red Cross is collecting and distributing cards to send words of encouragement, gratitude and cheer. You can help by writing a card, helping us sort and package cards, or distributing cards, as part of our Holiday Mail for Heroes program.

Write a Card

Send a card of thanks and support to members of the Armed Forces, veterans and their families, now through Dec. 7.

You can organize friends and family, or people at work or school for a holiday card-writing event. Have people make their own cards or sign ready-made cards.

Follow these tips:

  • Write your card to “Dear Service Member,” and be sure to sign your name.
  • Do not include gifts, glitter or other items with your card.
  • Don’t use envelopes for individual cards.
  • Large groups of cards should be bundled and sent in a large envelop or box.
  • United States Postal Service flat rate shipping boxes are one option for sending cards, and come in small medium and large sizes that can hold from 50 to up to 300 cards.

    • Mail your cards to: Holiday Mail for Heroes, P.O. Box 5456, Capitol Heights, MD, 20791-5456.

    Help sort and package cards

    Local Red Cross chapters will be helping to sort and package cards to send to our central mailing facility in Maryland. Volunteers will be needed from Dec. 1 to 23.

    Help distribute cards to local service members

    We will need volunteers to help distribute cards to service members in our community. Volunteers will be needed from Dec. 15 to Jan. 15.

    For more information, get in touch with your local chapter:

    Bay Area (Counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo and Solano) - Joan.Kelley-williams@redcross.org, (707) 423-3648

    Santa Cruz County - Patsy.Gasca@redcross.org, (831) 600-4902

    Silicon Valley - Naomi.Pease@redcross.org, (408) 577-2054

    Monterey Bay Area - Liz.Ford@redcross.org, (831) 320-5201

    About our Holiday Partners

    During this holiday season, the American Red Cross is grateful for the support of our corporate partners that generously contribute to our Holiday Giving Campaign. They include: University of Phoenix, Circle K West Coast Division, and the Community Safety Foundation, funded by AAA Northern California, Nevada & Utah Insurance Exchange. Thanks to the generosity of these and other sponsors, the Red Cross is able to carry out its mission of helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies everyday here and around the world. Each holiday season the Red Cross gives everyone the chance to support our work by giving blood, signing a card for military heroes or buying a gift through our holiday catalog. To support the Red Cross this Holiday Season, visit www.redcross.org/holiday