Armed Forces Emergency Services

It's that time of year again! The American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes are gearing up for this year's Holiday Mail for Heroes program. Beginning September 3rd you are invited to send holiday cards to our American service members, their families and veterans. Please send all cards to

Holiday Mail for Heroes

P.O. Box 5456

Capitol Heights, MD

20791-5456

The deadline for this year is December 10th. Unfortunately, if your cards are not postmarked by December 10th they cannot be delivered. After Pitney Bowes collects and screens the mail received in the PO Box, Red Cross workers deliver holiday greetings to service men and women in their communities.

Military Resource Center

We'll be there before, during and after deployment

Who we help:

Actively Duty Personnel
National Guard
Reservists
Veterans
Families of the above who have served in Operation Iraqi Freedom or
Operation Enduring Freedom

Before you deploy:

The Services to the Armed Forces Program of the American Red Cross

includes:

Casework referrals for family needs
Reffals for confidential counseling
Link to eConnect computer program
Family pre-deployment planning
"Get to Know Us Before You Need Us" briefings

When you deploy:

From providing vital news from home to soldiers in the field to providing
assistance with problemss arising out of deployment, we are there.
American Red Cross can help you or your family:
Stay in touch with loved ones
Provide verification of emergency leave
Process military aid society loans
Obtain counseling, information and referrals for identified needs of
family
Send video messages to service members to maintain
"connectedness"
Provide limited financial assistance

When you come home:

Reunion and reintegration are processes that cam be problematic.
Personal, employment and family circumstances often are different than
before deployment and may require counseling or other forms of
assistance. American Red Crosss can help you and your family.
Rebuild family relationships through counseling and reintegration
retreats
Find financial assistance to deal with crises that occur due to
deployment
Comprehensive case management
Obtain referrals to specialized agencies for basic needs-veterans'
benefits, healthcare, legal issues, marriage, family or individuals
counseling, educational benefits, financial needs and more

Information needed to expedite services

SSN of service member
Military address if currently deployed
Rank/branch of service member
Home base unit designation
Copy of deployment orders, DD214