News from the Cape Cod and Islands Chapter of the American Red Cross

Holiday Mail for Heroes to Deliver One Million Greetings to Service Members and Families

As part of a national campaign, the American Red Cross, Cape Cod and Islands Chapter is participating in a “Holiday Mail for Heroes” card drive.  The American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes Inc. are teaming up to send holiday cards to members of the military and their families in the United States and around the world. From Monday, November 2 until Monday, December 7, the public is invited to send holiday cards with their message of thanks and cheer to a special post office box.

The Red Cross and Pitney Bowes will then screen cards for hazardous materials, sort and package the cards, and deliver them to military bases, veteran’s hospitals and military hospitals during the holidays.   “Holiday Mail for Heroes” continues the Red Cross tradition of service to the armed forces.  Last year, 1.4 million cards were distributed.

Sending just one card is all it takes to make a difference by spreading holiday cheer and thanks to one of our nation’s heroes.  There are currently 1.4 million active duty U.S. military men and women serving in our country and abroad.  In addition, there are 24 million veterans in the U.S. 

Holiday cards should be addressed and sent to:

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

Please be sure to affix adequate postage. Keep the salutation generic, such as: Dear Service member or Veteran. Do not include personal information and please do not send letters.  If you’d like to send more than one card, please bundle them and mail them in a package. Cards must be received no later than December 8th (postmarked December 7th). Cards received after this date will be returned to senders.  To help speed the sorting process and delivery of cards and notes before the holidays, please refrain from sending “care packages,” monetary gifts, using glitter or including any other inserts. 

In order to make cards more meaningful to a wide variety of recipients, those sending cards are highly encouraged to use “Dear Service Member or Veteran” rather than specific language.  We encourage the public to send holiday-neutral cards rather than religious-themed cards. For a full list of recommended guidelines and best practices, please visit Redcross.org/holiday mail. Cards are also available to print out from the website, along with messages from Red Cross National Celebrity Amy Grant.

The American Red Cross is a charitable organization - not a government agency - and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission. For more information about the Cape Cod and Islands Chapter, visit the web site: cciredcross.org or call toll-free (508) 775-1540. You can also write to: American Red Cross, Cape Cod and Islands Chapter, 286 South Street, Hyannis MA 02601.

Pitney Bowes is a mail stream technology company, that helps organizations manage the flow of information, mail, documents and packages. Its employees deliver technology, service and innovation to more than two million customers worldwide.  The company was founded in 1920. More information is available at www.pb.com.

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Deadline for Red Cross Local Heroes Nominations December 22nd, 2009

The American Red Cross, Cape Cod and Islands Chapter, is looking for nominations for local Heroes.  Deadline for nominations is December 22nd, 2009.

These Heroes will be recognized at the upcoming Eighth Annual Heroes Breakfast on Thursday, March 4, 2010 at the Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis, MA from 7 -9 A.M.

The Red Cross touches lives in our community every day through programs and services such as disaster relief and health and safety training.  As an organization committed to helping the community, the Red Cross is honored to salute individuals who are making a difference through their actions.

All Heroes must live on Cape Cod, Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard and the heroic act must have been performed between December 15th, 2008 and December 21, 2009. The nominating committee will select the Heroes for 2008 in the following award categories:

• Firefighter
• Law Enforcement
• Medical
• Military
• 911 Dispatch
• Adult Good Samaritan (21 years and older)
• Youth Good Samaritan (Under 21 years)
• Animal Hero (person who aids or saves an animal or animals)
• Environmental Hero
• Community Impact or Community Service
• Educator
• Individual with Disability Mentor/ Role Model
• Adult Mentor/Role Model
• Youth Mentor/Role Model
• (Mentor/Role Model is someone who has made a significant contribution towards changing, influencing or improving the lives of others)
• Swim Rescue
• Diversity Hero (person who has made a significant contribution to promoting diversity within the community)

(Note, the nominating committee can add additional/different categories if relevant).

The deadline for nominations is December 22nd, 2009. Nomination forms are currently being distributed to libraries, fire, police and other community centers and they can be downloaded on the Chapter’s web site: cciredcross.org or can be obtained by calling toll-free (508) 775-1540 or (866) 762-1928. You can write to: American Red Cross, Cape Cod and Islands Chapter, 286 South Street, Hyannis MA 02601.

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American Red Cross Offers Flexible Web-based Training for First Aid, CPR and AED

The American Red Cross, Cape Cod and Islands Chapter, now offers unique online training tools for First Aid, CPR and AED, followed by a short skill session and testing for certification at the chapter house in Hyannis.

Classes available include: Adult, Infant and Child CPR/AED, First Aid, First Aid/CPR/AED for Schools and Community, CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer and several other classes aimed at CPR/First Aid/AED Instruction.

The student can sign up for the online training by simply going to cciredcross.org, click ‘take an online class’ icon and choose the class of choice and register.

The online portion of the class takes the same amount of time it would take in a classroom, different for each course. It could start at as little as 2 hours of online training and 2 hours of in-class training and certification.  The big advantage of the online class is that students may take it at their own pace and time. Depending upon the class, it is possible to start and stop as you please within 14 days. After completing the online course, a date will be set for the completion of the skills session and testing. Students receive training manuals at their skills session.

All skills training classes will be held at the Chapter House on 286 South Street in Hyannis unless otherwise indicated.  For schools, businesses, professional rescuers, clubs and organizations, alternate pricing, dates and locations are available by contacting the Chapter at (508) 775-1540, ext. 12.

Schedules for all training courses in CPR/AED and First Aid as well as Babysitting, Pet First Aid and Chokesaver for Restaurant Emergencies are available online at cciredcross.org or by calling (508) 775-1540 for more information.

For more information about training, volunteering or supporting the Cape Cod and Islands Chapter, American Red Cross, see the web site: cciredcross.org, call toll-free (508) 775-1540 or write to: 286 South Street, Hyannis, MA 02601.

All releases courtesy the Cape Cod and Islands Chapter of the Red Cross.