MIAMI, FLA. (September 23, 2024) —  As the holiday season approaches, the South Florida Region of the American Red Cross is excited to announce the launch of its annual Holiday for Heroes campaign. This cherished tradition offers South Florida residents a heartfelt way to honor and support our military heroes during the holidays.

The Holiday for Heroes initiative invites the community to write personal messages and donate items for holiday care packages. These packages will be distributed to active-duty military members deployed around the globe and local veterans in hospitals or nursing homes. Thoughtfully donated items, along with the messages of gratitude, will be placed in holiday stockings, hand-sewn by dedicated Red Cross volunteers.

For over a decade, volunteers have crafted thousands of stockings, helping to expand the program from its origins in the Naples and Fort Myers area to encompass the entire South Florida region. Last year, the Red Cross delivered more than 2,000 stockings, bringing joy to service members and veterans far from home.

"Supporting the U.S. military community is a core mission of the American Red Cross. As a veteran myself, I understand the profound impact of knowing that your community stands behind you," said Ivan Sterpin, Service to the Armed Forces and International Services Director for the South Florida Red Cross. "Through the Holiday for Heroes campaign, we ensure that our service members and veterans feel the appreciation and gratitude they deserve for their sacrifices."

This year, there are two options available for the community to participate. Items for care packages can be purchased from your favorite online retailer and shipped directly to the Red Cross collection site at 7051 Cypress Terrace, #110, Fort Myers, FL 33907. Additionally, residents can find a complete list of items that can be donated along with local drop-off locations by visiting redcross.org/HolidayForHeroes.

To participate, all items must be shipped or dropped off by November 11, 2024.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/SouthFlorida or follow us on social media @SFLRedCross.