On Thursday, October 2nd the American Red Cross Lamar County Chapter will host their “Holiday Mail for Heroes: Messages from Home” Campaign Rally where local residents can learn how to form a team, become a corporate sponsor, or make a donation. The Campaign Rally will take place at Bywaters Park (400 S. Main St. Paris, Texas 75460) from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
“Holiday Mail for Heroes: Messages from Home” is a four-month fundraising and awareness campaign to support Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces programs in Lamar County and beyond. “Hero” teams and corporate sponsors encourage family, friends and co-workers to sponsor personalized Holiday messages of gratitude to deployed and hospitalized soldiers.
“It feels great knowing the customized cards of gratitude and support we collect from Lamar County will travel around the world to a deployed or hospitalized service member this Holiday,” said Sally Hensley, local event Chair. “And the funds raised will support the good work Red Cross does at Camp Maxey, and help reconnect North Texas military families during their time of crisis.”
The fundraising and “card-raising” campaign began with the “Holiday in July” kickoff event on July 24, 2014, and will culminate with a ticketed “Holiday Card Send-Off Celebration” at Heritage Hall on Thursday, November 6. In addition, the 2014 Lamar County Community Hero and Military Hero will be recognized.
“Currently, we are seeking nominations from Lamar County for the Military Hero award,” said Sheree Williams, Major Gift Officer with Red Cross Lamar. “This is an active or honorably discharged service member who demonstrated leadership during their time of service, and continues to be a community leader here in Lamar County.”
Nomination forms can be picked up in Paris at Harley-Davidson, Home Depot, Kwik Kopy, Lamar Express Car Wash and Visiting Angels. Deadline for submission is Tuesday, October 21, 2014.
We are extremely grateful to the corporate sponsors who have already partnered in support of this year’s campaign, Visiting Angels of Paris, Richard Drake Construction, Huhtamaki, Inc., Paris Regional Medical Center, Silgan Can Company and The Paris News. In addition, 6 teams have begun their “card-raising” activities. Next week’s rally is open to the public. Those interested in attending can RSVP to Sheree Williams at Sheree.Williams@redcross.org or 903-737-4390. To read more or become involved with the local campaign, please visit www.redcross.org/northeasttexas or www.crowdrise.com/messagesfromhome .
About the American Red Cross: The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.