holiday doodle "service project"? anyone interested?

[Mary, Scrappy, Sully and Olive]

Anyone interested in sending some doodle love to those who may need it this year? I'm looking forward to sending out my doodle holiday cards and receiving so many.......just had an idea that maybe we could send some smiles to someone else.
I had originally thought about the Red Cross "Holidays for Heroes", where they are trying to get 1 million cards to our troops who are serving over the holidays.( I can post the address, it's also on the Red Cross website) Maybe someone else has a better military connection??
Does anyone else have any ideas......a children's hospital, elderly home, someone/someplace who could truly use a mailbox full of doodles, the original ambassadors of love & goodwill?
Just thought it might be heart warming to reach out to someone, through our doodles especially. It won't cost but a stamp and in this difficult financial time, we all can use a few extra smiles. I don't think it's possible to look at a doodle without smiling, is it? Let's share the love!

[Karen & Lucy]

I have no connections, but I think it is a perfect idea. Like you said, who better to bring a smile to a person in the military that can not be with their family over the holidays.

[Paula]

I don't have any connections but it sounds like a great idea!

[TrevorDoodle]

I would so Love to do this! I didn't want to make my address available, so I wasn't going to participate in the holiday card exchange. But I would definitely do this. Would we all send 1 card to the address below? How would this work?
I know we would have to get started SOON, especially if they are going overseas. The children's hospital/home is
another place I would like to send cards to. I don't have any connections either but i will try to look online and see if I
can find something.

I would LOVE to send some holiday "doodle kisses" and make some deserving person smile!

[Mary, Scrappy, Sully and Olive]

That's why I originally posted. I don't have any connections and thought maybe someone online could validate the military program. I don't know if it's just the Red Cross or if there is a better program. If you find any other programs, that would be great......Imagine bombarding someone with doodle kisses....especially when they need a pick me up!

[TrevorDoodle]

I just emailed the Children's Home Society of NC about this but I don't know if they will be interested b/c it will involve some work on their part. We cant send personally to the children because of many different reasons and also someone will have to go through all the cards and make sure that they are appropriate in content. I'm not counting on them wanting to do this. I will let you know if they do and I will continue looking for organizations.

[Mary, Scrappy, Sully and Olive]

The Children's Home would be nice! I'll keep looking too. I'm sure we can come up with some place. Unfortunately, I guess everyone has to be extra cautious now a days. The Red Cross program has lots of guidelines, as well.
For every one of us "nice" people with good intentions, I"m thinking there's 10 "creepy" people sending odd things in the mail, with bad intent.......strange world. I'll just hang with my doodles;)

[Mary, Scrappy, Sully and Olive]

I'm going to delete mine back to you, also and just post the Red Cross address. I received the same email last week and that's what got me to thinking that it would be nice......wonder how many people will actually send to that address and where the cards end up :( Seems the Red Cross is legit, just has alot of guidelines.

[Lucy's Mom~ Liz]

Nice idea-
I checked Snopes.com since the site seems so up to date. I found that the Red Cross will be handling cards again. It's called "Holiday Mail for Heroes".
They do have specific guidelines, so check the site first or see the pasted info below.
http://www.redcross.org/email/saf/
Deadline is December 10th!
Card Guidelines:

Please follow these guidelines when mailing a card to ensure that your card will quickly reach service members, veterans and their families. Every card received will first be screened for hazardous materials by Pitney Bowes and then reviewed by Red Cross volunteers working in one of 16 sorting stations around the country.

* All cards must be postmarked no later than Wednesday, December 10, 2008. Cards sent after this date will be returned to sender.
* Participants are encouraged to limit the number of cards they submit to 25 from any one person or 50 from any one class or group. If you are mailing a larger quantity, please bundle the cards and place them in large mailing envelopes. Each card does not need its own envelope or postage.
* Please ensure that all cards are signed.
* Please use generic salutations such as “Dear Service Member.” Cards addressed to specific individuals can not be delivered through this program.
* Please send cards as opposed to long letters which delay a quick review process.
* Please do not include email or home addresses on the cards, as the program is not meant to foster pen pal relationships.
* Please do not include inserts of any kind, including photos, as these items will be removed during the reviewing process.
* All cards received may be used in program publicity efforts, including appearing in broadcast, print or online mediums.

[Mary, Scrappy, Sully and Olive]

Hi Liz,
Lots of guidelines, including no photo inserts.....I assume photo cards would be okay.

[Mary, Scrappy, Sully and Olive]

Here's info from the Red Cross site:

Holiday Mail for Heroes, which began Tuesday, Veterans Day, is a follow-up to the 2007 effort that resulted in the collection and distribution of more than 600,000 cards to hospitalized servicemembers. This year's program will expand its reach to not only wounded servicemembers but also veterans and their families. The goal is to collect and distribute 1 million pieces of holiday mail.

"As we enter this holiday season-a time to celebrate with family and friends-it's important to remember the thousands of men and women who serve our nation in harm's way and those who are recovering in military and veterans hospitals," said Army Col. Norvell V. Coots, commander, Walter Reed Health Care System. "The Holiday Mail for Heroes program is a wonderful outreach effort and a great way to acknowledge the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform."

Holiday cards should be mailed to:
Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD. 20791-5456

All cards must be postmarked no later than Dec. 10. Cards should not be mailed or delivered to Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

[Mary, Scrappy, Sully and Olive]

well, here's the website, once more, for more info....
http://www.redcross.org/email/saf/

This is the best place I could come up with for cards to be sent for military soldiers. I guess if anyone wants to, just send a card to the address listed, as it's probably to late to collect them all in one place to send as a group. They all must be postmarked by Dec. 10. Please see the above site for guidelines. Here's the address:
Holiday Mail for Heroes
PO Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

Anyone else with other organizations or addresses please post and we can all decide which to send to, if wanting to participate. The more smiles we send, the better the season will be!

[2hl9mp3c2fuam]

I posted another discussion today similar with a free letter by Xerox...check it out...if you have any other info I'd be glad to send a card.