SOV collects “Holiday Mail for Heroes”

Between Nov. 6 and Dec. 1, Shepherd of the Valley-Poland, located at 301 W. Western Reserve Road in Poland, will be collecting Christmas/holiday greeting cards for the “Holiday Mail for Heroes” program. Cards can be dropped off at the reception desk between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. daily through Dec. 1. On Dec. 2, all cards will be forwarded to the Red Cross for distribution.

Follow these guidelines for sending cards to service members:

• Sign all of your cards.

• Use generic salutations such as “Dear Service Member.” Cards addressed to specific individuals can’t be delivered through this program.

• Only cards are being accepted. No envelopes.

• Don’t include your email or home address on the cards as the program is not meant to foster pen pal relationships.

• Don’t put anything in the cards, including photos, as these items, along with the envelopes, will be discarded during the reviewing process.

• No glitter, please. It can aggravate health issues of ill and injured warriors.

Sponsored by the American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes, “Holiday Mail for Heroes” distributes holiday cards to troops recovering in military hospitals, service members stationed throughout the U.S. and abroad, and veterans and their families.

Remember, the “Holiday Mail for Heroes” program is for the delivery of holiday cards only. If you wish to donate items such as phone cards or military comfort kits go to the Help Our Troops section of the Red Cross online catalogue.