We have been having a blast counting down the days ’til Christmas with 24 Days of Random Acts of Christmas Kindness!
Today’s RACK was making cards for deployed servicemen and women. The kids sent their Halloween candy to their troops last month and loved the idea of sending cards for the holidays.
How to Send a Card to a Servicemember
We used to send ours through the Red Cross Holiday Mail for Heroes program. They have specific guidelines for the mail such as cards only, no photos, no glitter and no identifying information. However, many Red Cross chapters no longer take holiday mail for heroes.
Now we send our cards through A Million Thanks!
Check out the A Million Thanks organization for a local drop off area or send your letters to them to distribute!
- Letters for Christmas need to be to them by December 1st so they can be quarantined. But don’t let that stop you. They could use a note of thanks or a handmade drawing any time of year!
- They recommend starting the letter with a generic opening like Dear Hero or Dear Troops because they are distributed to servicemembers from all branches of the Armed Forces.
- Adding money for postage (if you can) helps them get the cards to the troops overseas.
Go here to learn more—-> https://amillionthanks.org/letter/
If you are in Canada the National Defence and Canadian Armed Forces page has all the guidelines for mailing letters and packages by Canada Post.
What a wonderful way to help kids remember Pearl Harbor Day! Love this!
They had a blast! Next year I may have to make it a November activity since the cards have to be there so early. They did not want to stop making Christmas cards!
How cool! We did this too! And my kids drew pics and colored them too. love it! LOL! http: //mytalesfromthecrib.blogspot.com/2013/12/give-back-family-christmas-project.html
That’s fantastic!!!
2014 HOLIDAY MAIL FOR HEROES. Big changes to the program. You have the correct link, so your readers will be led to the proper information. Thanks for sharing this!
Great ideas! I wonder if there is some where that would get cards to the hurricane victims and the victims of the California camp fire tragedy.
That’s a great idea!!!