MANSFIELD — When filling out Christmas cards this year, consider sending season’s greetings to the troops.
AMVETS Post 26 Ladies Auxiliary is collecting Christmas cards, hoping to exceed last year’s amount (7,000 cards) and send at least 10,000 cards to troops all over the world.
“AMVETS Post 26 and other organizations throughout the nation are very strong supporters of our veterans and troops who are deployed, whether stateside or overseas, and we just want to send them greetings during the holidays and show that they do have support at home,” said Julie Wilcox, AMVETS Post 26 Ladies Auxiliary president.
Cards must be signed, unsealed and have a return address in the upper left corner (senders may use the AMVETS Post 26 address if they prefer). Homemade cards are acceptable but must be placed in an envelope. Do not address the cards to any one person or unit. No glitter, 3D or loose items are allowed in the envelopes.
Wilcox, who has a son in the military, believes the cards are well received, noting that senders sometimes get thank-you notes in return.
Schools within Richland County, local churches and organizations all chip in to show their support. Wilcox said Clear Fork School District submitted just under 2,000 cards last year.
“I’ve gotten cards from people as far as North Carolina,” she said.
Cards may be mailed or dropped off at AMVETS Post 26 c/o Julie Wilcox at 1100 W. 4th St., Mansfield, 44906. AMVETS Post 26 will send the cards to a volunteer organization in Missouri, which will distribute them to troops across the globe.
The deadline to submit a Christmas card is Nov. 1. For large quantities of cards, pick-up can be arranged if in a near distance of Mansfield.
People may also drop off blank cards that AMVETS Post 26 will arrange to be signed before being mailed.
AMVETS Post 26 is accepting monetary donations to help cover the cost of shipping. Wilcox said it costs about 12 cents per card.
For more information contact Julie Wilcox at 419-631-5150.
