Greater Rochester 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 and Veterans

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Thursday, November 11, 2010—To commemorate Veterans Day The American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes Inc. are teaming up to launch their Holiday Mail for Heroes program 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.

Between November 11 and 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 like the partner agencies that make up Help Base Greater Rochester (www.helpbasegreaterrochester.org), during the holidays. Pitney Bowes is providing all screening, packaging and shipping at no charge.

“It’s an honor for our community to help make the holidays special for American heroes,” said Leighton Jones, Director of Disaster & Emergency Services at the Greater Rochester Red Cross. “The American Red Cross serves and supports members of the military, veterans, and their families by providing emergency communications, comfort and assistance each day and this is an additional way for the Red Cross honor the military. 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.
“The men and women who serve our country in uniform deserve our thanks every single day, and sending just one card is all it takes to make a difference in the life of one of our nation’s heroes,” said Jon Love, President of Pitney Bowes Government Solutions. “We are honored to participate in this important initiative again with the American Red Cross and look forward to helping the public say happy holidays and thank you.”

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.

Visit Redcross.org/holidaymail for a full list of recommended guidelines and best practices on the Holiday Mail for Heroes program.

Additional ways to become involved with the campaign include connecting with fellow card senders through Facebook at www.facebook.com/redcross and Twitter at www.twitter.com/redcross and #HMFH.

Visit www.rochesterredcross.org to learn more about the Greater Rochester Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces.