How to Send Cards to Recovering Soldiers

Support a soldier this season with cards or donations to wounded service men and women.

In the past, the Walter Reed Army Medical Center received cards for wounded or recovering soldiers. The new restrictions on mail mean you can no longer send cards to an unnamed "Wounded Soldier." There are still, however, several ways you can show your appreciation to soldiers. The Red Cross accepts holiday cards to distribute to soldiers and several other organizations take donations of time, money and goods to directly assist soldiers who are at the Medical Center in recovery.

Things You'll Need

• Cards
• Donation items
• Packaging envelopes or boxes
• Packaging tape
• Postage

Instructions

Sending Cards to Military Personnel

1. Make or purchase as many holiday cards as you'd like to send. Consider making your card non-denominational to take into account the varying beliefs of service men and women. Keep your message upbeat and supportive. You do not need to write "Any soldier" on the outside of the card envelope.

2. Bundle your cards or place them in a large envelope.

3. Mail the cards to:

   Holiday Mail for Heroes

   PO Box 5456

   Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456.

4. Postmark your cards by the date indicated on the Red Cross website, usually a few weeks before Christmas. If your cards are not postmarked by that date, they will not be delivered to soldiers.

Donate Needed Goods to Wounded and Recovering Soldiers

1. Check the list of items needed by wounded and recovering soldiers. The Angels of Mercy Program and the Cause USA Gift Packs program both accept and deliver care packages to wounded and recovering soldiers. Examples of needed items include hand held games, current issues of magazines, batteries, water bottles, pajama pants, DVDs and phone cards. All items must be new.

2. Purchase your selected items from the list and package the items for shipping.

3. Send your donation to Cause USA by mailing your items to:

   6315 Bren Mar Drive

   Suite 175

   Alexandria, VA 22312

4. Contact Angels of Mercy if you would like to send your donation to their organization. Their website lists a telephone number and email for donation purposes.

Tips & Warnings

• Cards that are received at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center that are not addressed to a specific soldier will not be delivered and will be thrown away, according to current Center guidelines.

References

• Red Cross: Holiday Mail For Heroes Program Overview
• Cause USA: Gift Packs
• American Legion Post 270 American Legion Auxiliary Unit 270: Angels of Mercy Program