Holiday Mail for Heroes to Deliver Greetings to U.S. Military Members and Veterans

/PRNewswire/ -- In this season of hope and giving, the American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes Inc. have joined forces again to invite the public to "send a touch of home" to United States service members and veterans across the country and abroad through the Holiday Mail for Heroes campaign.

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. Last year the program received more than 1.4 million cards for military men and women, their families and veterans.

The public can participate in the campaign by sending holiday cards with personal messages to a special post office box from Monday, November 2 through Monday, December 7. 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 in the U.S. and abroad during the holidays. Pitney Bowes is providing all screening, packaging and shipping at no charge, as well as providing thousands of volunteer hours around the country. The Red Cross will utilize volunteers at over 300 participating chapters nationwide to sort and deliver greetings to military and veteran's hospitals and military bases in November and December.

Joining the campaign this year as spokesperson is contemporary music artist and American Red Cross celebrity cabinet member Amy Grant.

"I am honored and thrilled to be a part of the Holiday Mail for Heroes program," says Grant. "The service that our military men and women provide this country year-round is invaluable and I feel it is especially important to give thanks for their sacrifices during the holiday season."

Grant will celebrate the campaign's official launch with the Red Cross and Pitney Bowes at a Veteran's Day event in Washington where she will join military and public guests in signing holiday cards for the program.

"The United States currently has 1.4 million active duty members, reservists and guards serving within our borders and abroad. Additionally more than 24 million veterans have faithfully served our country in the past," notes Sherri Brown, Sr. Vice President of Service to the Armed Forces at the American Red Cross. "With increased chapter participation this year we hope to reach many more service members and veterans who may be spending this holiday season away from home or without loved ones," says Brown.

"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.

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 #holidaymail.

For more information and card requirements, please visit www.redcross.org/holidaymail.

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Arts Across Georgia

SouthernLINC Wireless Gives a Little 'Home' this Holiday Season to Soldiers Stationed Overseas

/PRNewswire/ -- For the second consecutive year, SouthernLINC Wireless, a Southern Company (NYSE:SO) , is supporting our deployed American troops through Any Soldier Inc., a non-profit organization that helps boost morale among deployed men and women of the U.S. armed forces via letters and packages from "home."

Through Nov. 20, multiple SouthernLINC Wireless locations will serve as collection points for cards, letters and care package items, which will be sent directly to soldiers deployed from military bases in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi.

Employees, customers and community members are encouraged to show support in a personal way that suits them and their budgets. Especially during the upcoming holiday season, cards and letters mean the most to our deployed military personnel, yet cost very little and require only a small time investment.

"We are proud to once again support our dedicated servicemen and women with the help of the Any Soldier organization," said Bob Dawson, president and CEO of SouthernLINC Wireless. "Our troops sacrifice so much to protect us and our country. I hope our Southeastern neighbors will take this opportunity to write a note or donate a few, inexpensive comforts from 'home' to show our soldiers how much they are appreciated."

Cards, letters and care package items should be dropped off during business hours at multiple SouthernLINC Wireless locations in Alabama and Georgia. For more information, including a complete list of collection locations, guidelines and suggested care package items, visit www.southernlinc.com/community.

Last year's holiday drive with Any Soldier® collected and mailed more than 1750 cards and letters and 210 care packages - weighing more than a ton - to more than 1350 U.S. servicemen and women.

Founded in 2003 by Marty and Sue Horn, Any Soldier grew through a strong network of family and friends.

"Our family started Any Soldier to give our son Brian and his unit from the 173rd Airborne Brigade a few comforts from home and boost spirits," said Marty Horn, a 20-year Army veteran and president of Any Soldier. "We are honored that SouthernLINC Wireless is holding a holiday collection drive again this year to support soldiers deployed overseas from bases in the Southeast."

As a nonprofit organization, Any Solider relies on donations to continue their efforts to improve the lives of U.S. military personnel who are stationed far away from family and friends. To support this organization and the work it does, please go to www.anysoldier.com/HelpDonate.cfm to learn how to make a tax-deductible donation.

Currently, Any Soldier is helping approximately 100,000 active duty and reservists in all U.S. military branches who are in harm's way. In its six year history, Any Soldier has served nearly 1.5 million members of the U.S. military.

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