Red Cross Against Heroes!

From the American Red Cross:
"Holiday Mail for Heroes "

 

With many service members and veterans separated from their families this holiday season due to deployments and hospital stays, the American Red Cross Holiday Mail for Heroes (HMFH) program empowers people to “Give Something That Means Something” by sending a card of thanks and support to the members of the Armed Forces, veterans and their families.  Beginning in 2014, the program will take on a different look, as Red Cross chapters across the continental U.S. and Red Cross offices on military installations overseas will take complete control of the program. There will no longer be a national Holiday Mail for Heroes P.O. Box to which cards are sent. 

 

Moving forward, local Red Cross offices will collect, sort, and distributing the holiday cards using an events-based approach in their local communities. Local Red Cross offices will:

1. Hold events to sign or make holiday cards

2. Schedule card-sorting times.

3. Coordinate card delivery to the military, vets and families in their communities.

 

These changes will allow local Red Cross offices to better concentrate on reaching out to the members of the military, veterans and families in their community—neighbors helping neighbors.

 

FAQ:

 

What is the Holiday Mail for Heroes Program?
The Red Cross Holiday Mail for Heroes program enables Americans to “Give Something That Means Something” this holiday season. We are inviting the public to send cards of thanks, encouragement and holiday cheer to members of our U.S. Armed Forces, veterans and military families, many of whom will be far away from home this holiday season.

                        

What is the address of the P.O. Box for the program?
There is no longer a national P.O. Box for the program. Instead, Holiday Mail for Heroes is being conducted at the Red Cross office in your local community. Check with your local Red Cross for times and locations of events and for opportunities to get involved.

Why is the Red Cross changing the format of the program?
We have made this change for several reasons including:                          

• A reduction in U.S. military forces overseas, particularly in the Middle East and across Europe.
• Increased costs of conducting the program.

I contacted my local Red Cross office and they are not participating in the program this year. Where do I send my cards?
There are two options for sharing your holiday cards:                          

• Ask your local Red Cross office for military and veterans organizations in your community where you can send your cards directly.
• Check the participating chapters tab for updated information regarding the closest Red Cross chapter in your area participating in Holiday Mail for Heroes.

                        

                                   

Will my card be distributed to our troops stationed overseas?
Cards are distributed to hundreds of locations domestically and around the world, including military installations, military and VA medical facilities and veterans organizations. Please understand that it is difficult to determine which cards will be sent overseas and which will be sent domestically.

                         

 

^ This is a disgrace and an outrage to every soldier and veteran in the US military! I have participated in this program for numerous years now and wanted to continue it today (especially considering soldiers are still in Afghanistan, Iraq, western and eastern Africa, etc.) but my local Red Cross isn't participating in this this year. Instead they are having a dinner gala which is beyond stupid. Anyone who is/was a solider or anyone who knows/knew someone who was a soldier knows that they want regular, snail mail especially during the holidays. They don't want money, etc. They want something personal. This leaves me disgusted at the American Red Cross. It shows that they don't care about the soldiers, veterans or their families. Most charities have become more focused on monetary donations. They seem to be offended when you don't want to give them money but would rather give them your time, food, clothes, blankets, toys, cards, etc. There was a time when places like the Red Cross would gladly accept anything for free, but now they follow the motto :"Beggars CAN be Choosers" and that only makes less people want to donate anything so the people who really need help don't get it because of the greedy charities. I am going to look elsewhere to see if another organization is doing something similar since the Red Cross has failed the US Military this year. ^

 

http://www.redcross.org/support/get-involved/holiday-mail-for-heroes