Holiday cards, items for care packages for US service members being collected locally

FINDLAY — The American Red Cross will host its Holiday for Heroes card-making party from 6-8 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Hancock County office in Findlay.

Supplies for making cards will be provided and the public is invited to attend.

Cards may be dropped off or mailed to the Hancock County Red Cross office, 125 Fair St. Findlay OH 45840, until Nov. 18.

Cards and gift package items also may be dropped off by Nov. 18 at Curves and A&A Grocery in Upper Sandusky.

Individuals are asked to refrain from sending letters, monetary donations or any other inserts with the cards and from using glitter.

The American Red Cross Holiday For Heroes program is an annual campaign that lets the community send messages of appreciation and holiday cheer to service members, veterans and military families.

North Central Ohio Chapter Executive Director Todd James said the program is easy to participate in.

“Whether you make a card or buy a card, it just takes a moment to sign it and share your appreciation for the sacrifices made by members of the military and veteran community,” he said.

Individuals, schools, businesses and organizations are encouraged to participate by collecting cards and delivering them to the Hancock County Red Cross office.

As part of the Holiday For Heroes campaign, the Red Cross is collecting specific items to be distributed to armed forces personnel in Kuwait and Djibouti. Care packages will be assembled and sent to service members.

“These are everyday items that we take for granted,” James said. “But for servicemen and women overseas, they mean a lot and can make their lives a little bit more comfortable. Sending these packages is an easy way to say thanks and happy holidays to those sacrificing so much for our freedom.”

James said the list of items being collected comes straight from the troops.

“The Red Cross has Service to the Armed Forces stations on these bases and our personnel who serve the troops provided a list of items that our brave men and women need and want,” he said. “That’s the list we are using to fill the care packages.

Items needed include full-sized and travel-sized toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, lotion, toothpaste, body wash), feminine hygiene products, deodorant, body and foot powder, toothpaste, floss, tissues, shave gel (no aerosol cans), dice, books, board games, protein bars, candy, nuts, gum, beef sticks or jerky, cookies, crackers, toaster pastries, ramen, macaroni and cheese and heat and serve foods that come in their own serving bowls and just-add-water muffin, cake, cookie and bread mixes.

Red Cross volunteers will be at the Tiffin Avenue and Trenton Avenue Walmart stores in Findlay from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 5 to collect donated items for the care packages. Volunteers will be outside the store’s entrances with fliers listing the items needed.

The deadline for collecting the items is Nov. 18.

“That gives us enough time to pack the boxes and get them in the mail, so they arrive overseas in time for the holiday season,” James said.

Items also may be dropped off at the Findlay Red Cross office.

The Red Cross also is accepting monetary donations to help cover the costs of shipping the packages overseas.