Midlands Military to Receive Holiday Mail

Over a dozen American Red Cross volunteers Monday at the Columbia Region Headquarters on Bull Street in Columbia sorted through thousands of holiday cards that have poured in from members of the community, schools and businesses as part of the Holiday Mail for Heroes Program. The volunteers ensure that contents are appropriate and that the cards are ready for delivery. Once sorted, volunteers will distribute holiday cards to military groups throughout the Midlands. Voluinteers read through holiday greetings filled with messages of thanks to our men and women in uniform through the Holiday Mail for Heroes program before preparing the mail to be taken to area military bases. “We are very excited that over 30,000 cards were collected from members of our community,” said Scott R. Salemme, regional chief executive officer, American Red Cross, Columbia Region. “Everyone that participated in this program will bring a smile and lighten the spirit of our nation‘s heroes.” Since 2006, the American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes have received more than 3.5 million holiday cards for members of the Armed Forces. The goal of Holiday Mail for Heroes is to empower everyday Americans to share “a touch of home” with our service men and women while thanking them for their sacrifice. For more information about Holiday Mail for Heroes, visit www.redcross.org/holidaymail, or to sign up to help deliver the holiday cards, call 803-5401223. To make a financial contribution to the Red Cross, you may send donations to: The American Red Cross, P.O. Box 91, Columbia, SC 29202. Donations can also be made by visiting www.columbiaregionredcross.org or by calling (803) 540-1241.