MOBILE, Ala., Tuesday, November 11, 2008 — The holidays are a special time of year for people around the world, and it’s a great time to say thank you to people who do great things all year long—including the United States Military. You can lend a hand this year to give holiday greetings to service members with something as simple as a holiday card. The American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes are teaming up to collect holiday greetings from the public for members of the military and their families in the United States and around the world. Our national goal is to receive and distribute one million cards this year, between Veterans Day on November 11 and December 10, 2008. The Red Cross and Pitney Bowes are handling the screening, sorting and delivery—all you have to do is send a card with your heartfelt holiday message.

“During this season of joy and thanksgiving, let’s remember to spread holiday cheer to these brave individuals, and to their families,” said Leisle Mims, executive director of the American Red Cross Alabama Gulf Coast Chapter. “The goal is to reach one million this year and with the help of Mobile and the surrounding areas, we will.”

Visit www.redcrossalcoast.org for a link to details on how you can send a card. The Red Cross even has a way to create a card of your own to send! Once you’ve read the guidelines, mail your card between Veterans Day, November 11, and Wednesday, December 10, to:

           Holiday Mail for Heroes
           P. O. Box 5456
           Capitol Heights, MD  20791-5456

(Cards postmarked after December 10 will be returned to sender.)

Spread the word to your friends, family and neighbors, and let’s send a bit of holiday cheer to our service men and women, veterans and their families around the world in gratitude for their service.

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About the Alabama Gulf Coast Chapter:
Since 1917, the Alabama Gulf Coast Chapter has been upholding the American Red Cross mission of providing relief to victims of disaster and helping people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies in Mobile, Baldwin, Clarke, Monroe, and West Escambia Counties. The American Red Cross is a volunteer organization supported by the donations of the people in our community.

The American Red Cross Alabama Gulf Coast Chapter is a United Way Agency.

Verizon Wireless is the official wireless provider for the American Red Cross Alabama Gulf Coast Chapter.