The Sussex County Chapter of the American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes
Invite Public to Send a “Touch of Home” to Service Members, Veterans
and Family Members this Holiday Season
“Holiday Mail for Heroes” to Deliver Greetings to U.S. Military Members their Families and Veterans

Newton, NJ, November 16, 2009—The American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes Inc. are teaming up to deliver holiday cards to service members, their families and veterans, many of whom will be far from home this holiday season.  Now in its third year, the Holiday Mail for Heroes program provides Americans with the opportunity to extend holiday greetings and thanks to service members and veterans. 

From now through December 7, the public is invited to send a “touch of home” through holiday cards that contain messages of cheer and appreciation.  The Red Cross and Pitney Bowes will then screen cards for hazardous materials, sort and package the cards, and deliver them to military bases and hospitals, veteran’s hospitals and other locations during the holidays.  Pitney Bowes is providing all screening, packaging and shipping at no charge.  The Red Cross will utilize hundreds of volunteers to sort and box cards for delivery to service men and women, veterans and family members in November and December.   

“It’s an honor for our community to help make the holidays special for American heroes,” said Pat Day, Executive Director of the Sussex County Chapter.  “The American Red Cross serves and supports members of the military, veterans, and their families by providing emergency communications, comfort and assistance each day. The Holiday Mail for Heroes program continues the Red Cross tradition of service to the armed forces.” 

Last year, with the help of Pitney Bowes, hundreds of volunteers screened, sorted and packaged cards that were delivered to military bases, veteran and military hospitals across the U.S. and around the world.

Holiday cards should be addressed and sent to:

Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456 

Please be sure to affix adequate postage.  Cards must be received no later than December 7.  Cards received after this date will be returned to senders.  For reasons of processing and safety, participants are asked to refrain from sending “care packages,” monetary gifts, using glitter or including any inserts with the cards. 

If you are aware of a service member, military unit, veterans group or military family that would like to receive cards please contact Lauri Gill at 973-579-1600 or email lgill@sussexredcross.org with the full mailing address and number of cards needed. Visit redcross.org/holidaymail for a full list of recommended guidelines and best practices on the Holiday Mail for Heroes program.

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.sussexredcross.org or call our office at 973-579-1600.

About Pitney Bowes:
Pitney Bowes is a $6.3 billion global technology leader whose products, services and solutions deliver value within the mailstream and beyond.  Founded in 1920, our company’s 35,000 employees deliver technology, service and innovation to more than two million customers worldwide. For more information about Pitney Bowes, its products, services and solutions, visit www.pb.com.