Okay guys/gals, I said I would look into this, but I didn't realize time is running out!

I've found a reputable site that will accept Christmas cards and mail them to our troops overseas. Your cost? One postage stamp.

The site is a Cause on Facebook as follows: Operation Christmas Cards For our Soldiers 235,322 members

To ensure that no soldier is left behind at the holidays. We would like to put a card in the hands of those deployed with warm wishes and appreciations during a time when they need it most.

The holidays are often a difficult time for those deployed. Often times there are troops who receive little to nothing during the Christmas season. Our goal is to have a card for each deployed soldier during the holidays extending them warm wishes and appreciation during what may feel like a lonely time for them.

Often times kind words from strangers are the very motivation that they need to stay focused in their mission of defending this country. We would like to ensure that by giving them a simple holiday card.

We would like to collect as many cards as possible by November 27, 2009 so that soldiers who wouldn't other wise receive mail or benefit from generous care packages are not forgotten. They do so much for us, a simple card is the least we can do to brighten their day and holiday!

We all have left over cards from holidays past. Why not put them to good use and send over some much needed morale and support? It truly doesn't matter what type the card as long as its seasonally appropriate, the troops will love it. If you wish not to send a holiday card a thank you card or note cards of warm wishes are always greatly appreciated!

Enlist the help of your children, pictures are always a welcomed addition as many troops have children of their own at home. Just remember to write a small personal note for the holidays and even a thank you! Also, include your name and a contact information such as email if you would like to hear back from the soldier who receives your card or picture.

Thank you all and please ask anyone and everyone you can think of and thank you all for the help and support of this program! All the ideas have been welcomed and greatly appreciated!

You can mail cards to:
Amanda Sullivan
Attn: Operation Christmas Cards
PO Box 102
Shrewsbury MA 01545

Here is a reminder of the common questions:

As the number of people continue to grow, the same questions seem to be popping up. So here are some answers to the questions that may be hidden around on this page.

1. Do we sign our name?
Soldiers like the personal connection, but you certainly dont have to if you are not comforable.

2. Do we put a return address or email?
Some soldiers like to keep in contact with those that have touched their lives while they are so far from home. However, we do understand that some of you wish not to. For those that do not wish to, we are going to include some post cards with the cards for the soldiers to write back and then post them on the site.

3. Do we seal the envelopes?
Please do NOT seal the envelopes. Unfortunately some of the cards do have messages that we would not wish any of these men or women to read while they are serving this country.

4. Do we need to include a stamp on the cards?
No, you do not. We are sending these cards in bulk to chaplains and other service members to be distributed.

5. Can we have school aged children draw pictures?
Absolutely, these men and women love getting pictures from children and many of them have children of their own waiting for them at home. For those of you doing it with classes, please include the school address for the soldier to write back to.

If you don't think they get our letters, Read here - go to messages from the troops!

Thank you and God bless our troops!

Count me in. How many is a reasonable number to send? I will send a hundred if needed; there is no way each and every soldier serving this country shouldn't receive several cards!!

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"I'll rap you with my cane; you pencil necked geek!!"

-Bowler, imitating Freddy Blassie, at the very first M & G.

You can send as many as you want. Put them all in one BIG envelope (no need for individual ones). The Chaplains will distribute them to each and every soldier. I just put out the challenge to my youngest sons school - which class can contribute the most - they'll give them all to me and I'll pay postage to send them all to the coordinator.

ETA: I just read somewhere on that site that on November 12th, the coordinator received 1300 cards THAT day alone

Thanks Howie!

So I could write up 100 cards, and send them in one envelope?

We used to make cards for the soldiers in Vietnam when I was a kid; it is one of the things I reflect upon, and feel very pleased about to this day.....

_________________
"I'll rap you with my cane; you pencil necked geek!!"

-Bowler, imitating Freddy Blassie, at the very first M & G.

If Howie's in for 100 cards, I think I can write and send along 100 as well.

Definitely! Count me in.

Thanks Ice!

I need to clarify one thing though The cards can be placed in one big envelope, but the individual envelopes containing the cards must remain unsealed. I don't like licking envelopes anyway I'm filling mine out tonight while watching the game and off to the post office in the morning

I love this idea.

I'll leave my name and address, for sure!

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Wheelhouse

I'm thinking "pin-worthy" - Don't mind if I do.

I will be sending some...........not through this, but rather through the people we have here.


I will say this, when I was last deployed I got TONS of cards I shared with my guys. Some brought tears, some brought laughter, but all brought a great feeling.



J

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Godsmack's posts are often made with little thought or consideration of others. If you find yourself offended please go to the end of the cubicle, and there you will meet Carol. She has diabetes, high blood pressure, and is a Ducks fan. She will automatically assume you are full of shit and send you away. Or you could realize that he is just a sarcastic, mean little fucker, and he rather likes it that way. Please feel free to bust his chops back. Stay Classy San Diego.

Thanks J & PSP.

Littlest Schony's teacher called me today (yes, on a Saturday) to say the entire grade will make cards on Monday - we're talking 100+ kids drawing pictures and spelling phonetically We went over the minor details and agreed that each child will give a return address of "Ms. So-n-So's class" and the school address in hopes of hearing back from any of the Soldiers.

Hugs to you all

So, we write them a card and put it in an unsealed blank envelope, and then put that unsealed envelope in an envelope addressed to the charity? Is that correct?

_________________
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hockey Night in Buffalo

Exactly.

The coordinators have to skim the letters (understandably) so they can't be sealed. Any letter pre-addressed to "Any Soldier" and sent on their own will not be delivered. This is why they are being sent to Chaplains. Maybe J can give us specifics.

Anyway, I thank you guys for participating no matter one, ten, or one hundred.

Caro, send them a picture. You might end up with a lot of pen-pals

Hahaha, maybe I should send them a picture...because judging by my handwriting, they might think a 5-year-old wrote it...my handwriting is terrible.

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"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hockey Night in Buffalo

Chaplains get the letters and pass em out............we get em fast and we love em.


Your pic would help smiles

_________________
Godsmack's posts are often made with little thought or consideration of others. If you find yourself offended please go to the end of the cubicle, and there you will meet Carol. She has diabetes, high blood pressure, and is a Ducks fan. She will automatically assume you are full of shit and send you away. Or you could realize that he is just a sarcastic, mean little fucker, and he rather likes it that way. Please feel free to bust his chops back. Stay Classy San Diego.