Tag Archives: Holiday Cards

Holidays for Heroes Program Getting Ready to Launch in NEO

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Annual Program Helps Cheer Men and Women Serving in the Military

By: Jessica Tischler, Service to the Armed Forces Manager

We have begun collecting cards for our annual program – Holidays for Heroes. As with last year, we are looking for more generalized cards that can be used throughout the year.  These cards will be delivered to service members, veterans and their families in Northeast Ohio.

We are asking that you provide a couple of cards with thoughtful, heartfelt messages instead of large numbers with only a signature.

This year, we are partnering with the Troop and Family Assistance Center to collect items that are needed by service members in Northeast Ohio.  A donation of these small items with a note of appreciate will be welcomed by those serving us here in Northeast Ohio.

  • Toilet paper
  • Dish soap
  • Baby wipes
  • Paper towels
  • Kleenex
  • Feminine hygiene products
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Shaving cream and razors
  • Canned meat
  • Canned fruit
  • Pastas
  • Breakfast foods
  • Coffee
  • Drink Mix

Each of the five chapters in Northeast Ohio are collecting the items and cards for local distribution to service members, their families, and veterans through military units, area VA service locations, VFWs, and other military organizations. Through this program, cards may be delivered individually, included in care packages or displayed at common venues in military installations and hospitals.

A few rules:

  • The Red Cross does not provide cards to sign. Instead, please feel free to make cards or use any favorites that you have on hand.
  • In order to make cards as meaningful as possible for a wide audience, we recommend that you use generic titles such as “Dear Service Member,/Veteran/ Military Family Member” when writing the cards.
  • Please, no personal information such as addresses, phone numbers, or email addresses
  • Cards should not contain glitter because some cards may end up at the bedside of a wounded service member and the glitter could aggravate existing health issues.
  • Please do not seal in individual envelopes. It is easier for our volunteers to screen and sort the cards if they aren’t individually sealed in envelopes.
  • Individual cards can be dropped off or mailed to the Red Cross chapters in a large envelope or mailing box.
  • We ask that people not enclose any items with the holiday cards. Any items enclosed with the holiday cards will be removed, including photos and other gifts. If you wish to provide financial support for Red Cross services to the military, please donate online.
  • Chapters cannot accept cards after November 30– we still need time for our volunteers to sort and deliver!

You can mail cards, or drop cards and items off (between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.) to the following locations:

Greater Cleveland Chapter
3747 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44115

Lake Erie/Heartland Chapter
244 West South Street
Wooster, OH 44691

Elyria Office
2929 West River Rd. N.
Elyria, OH 44035

Mansfield Office
39 N. Park Street
Mansfield, OH 44902

 Lake to River Chapter
3530 Belmont Avenue
Suite 7
Youngstown, OH 44505

Stark County & Muskingum Lakes Chapter
408 9th Street, SW
Canton, OH 44707

Muskingum Lakes Office
734 Fair Ave NW
New Philadelphia, OH 44663 

Summit, Portage, and Medina Counties Chapter
501 West Market Street
Akron, OH 44303

How can you get involved in the Holiday Mail program beyond mailing a card?

Word of Mouth: Host a card signing party as part of your Thanksgiving Celebration!

Social Media: Connect with fellow card senders through social media channels and help us get the word out through Facebook and Twitter. Be sure to use the hashtag #holidaymail.

Help Sort and Deliver Cards: If you are interested in helping sort and deliver cards, please contact Jessica Tischler at 216-426-7525 to see how you can help.

Caring Cubs Create Cards to Help Heroes Celebrate Holidays

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Children Use Artistic Talent to Say “Thank You” to Service Members, Veterans 

The annual American Red Cross Holidays for Heroes Campaign is in full swing, and  Caring Cubs is making its annual contribution. The Northeast Ohio-based organization holds monthly events for children ages 2 and up, designed to teach various lessons of social responsibility.  On Saturday, November 5th, dozens of children and their parents gathered in the Main Galleria at Cuyahoga Community College Western Campus in Parma to create cards to send to members of the military.

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Bryn and Elle with mom Anne

“It’s great to partner with organizations like Caring Cubs,” said Jessica Tischler, Regional Director of Service to the Armed Forces.  “The cards they created will no doubt bring smiles to many faces this holiday season.”

Unlike previous campaigns, this year we hope to solicit cards that can be sent to service members and their families at every holiday during the year.  We are asking for personal, heartfelt messages in every card, even if it means collecting fewer cards.  See our earlier post, which includes a video highlighting the need for meaningful messages, as well as a list of items we are collecting for patients at the Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center.

Log onto our Flickr page to see more photos of the Caring Cubs’ efforts to brighten the holidays for our heroes.

How can you send Holiday Mail for Heroes, this year?

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Our annual Holiday Mail for Heroes program provides cards of thanks and support to the members of the Armed Forces, veterans and their families.

This year the program will operate a little differently. In previous years, participants and local chapters sent cards to a central P.O. Box.

This year, cards should be sent directly to our local chapters. Participating Red Cross chapters will determine how to best distribute cards to service members, veterans and family members in their local communities, across the nation and around the world. Cards may be delivered individually, included in care packages or displayed at common venues in military installations and hospitals.

In Northeast Ohio, you can mail or drop cards off at the following locations:

Stark & Muskingum Lakes
Muskingum Lakes Office
1451 4th St. NW
New Philadelphia , OH 44663
Drop off Deadline: December 5

Greater Cleveland
3747 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44115
Drop off Deadline: December 5

Lake Erie/Heartland
Wooster Office
244 West South Street
Wooster, OH 44691
Drop off Deadline: December 1

Lake Erie/Heartland
Elyria Office
2929 West River Rd. N.
Elyria , OH 44035
Drop off Deadline: December 1
**We are hosting a signing at Light Up Lorain on 11/29 and community members can bring cards there, too. Just look for Red Cross table!

Summit, Portage, and Medina Counties
501 West Market Street
Akron, OH 44303
Drop off Deadline: December 5

In order to make cards as meaningful as possible for a wide audience, we recommend that you use generic titles such as “Dear Service Member,/Veteran/ Military Family Member” when writing the cards. Cards should not contain glitter because some cards may end up at the bedside of a wounded service member and the glitter could aggravate existing health issues.

We ask that people not enclose any items with the holiday cards. Any items enclosed with the holiday cards will be removed, including photos and other gifts. If you wish to provide financial support for Red Cross services to the military, please donate online.

How can you get involved in the Holiday Mail program beyond mailing a card?

  • Word of Mouth: Host a card signing party as part of your Thanksgiving Celebration!
  • Social Media: Connect with fellow card senders through social media channels and help us get the word out through Facebook and Twitter. Be sure to use the hashtag #holidaymail.
  • Help Sort and Deliver Cards: If you are interested in helping sort and deliver cards, please contact Pat Buckhold at buckhold@redcross.org or 216-431-3370 to see how you can help.