This hardly counts as charity, the Red Cross is collecting holiday cards for American service members stationed overseas (and their families) this holiday season (thanks to Sara B. for  bringing this program to my attention). Whatever your feelings about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, I’d like to believe that we can all sympathize with young men and women away from home between mid-November and January 1.  I know that I often struggle to reconcile my distinct disapproval of the wars with my profound respect for the men and women who serve in the US armed forces.  Especially when they have to do things like work at the Marine Corps Marathon– which just makes me feel like a high-maintenance jerk who isn’t nearly thankful enough.

Cards must be sent to this address no later than December 7:

Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

There is even a Flickr stream (empty at the moment) that will be updated with images from the mailing centers!  I love seeing photos of people sorting through piles of mail– mostly it just makes me jealous.