Christmas cards for soldiers (Xposted)

Today, I recieved my first email asking me to "include recovering
soldiers" when I send out my Christmas cards. While I appreciate the
thought, PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS UNLESS YOU CHECK WITH YOUR LOCAL VA
FIRST!!!!

Around this time of year, many emails along this line circulate, often
suggesting you send cards to Walter Reed. As a Girl Scout leader, I
too thought this would be a great, easy service project, but checked
into it and discovered that Walter Reed and other hospitals WILL NOT
be giving these cards to recovering military personnel - and in fact,
they may simply be discarded. There is too much risk for someone to
boobytrap a card, enclose anthrax, etc. The USO also does not accept
cards.

If you would like to do this, contact your local VA hospital and talk
to someone in volunteer services. They will let you know if they will
accept the cards (which they probably WILL, if you call ahead and
arrange to let them know they are coming) or possibly suggest another
group for you to deliver them to.

The key is you need to have a contact or name to put with the
delivery. It may be the volunteer coordinator, who will then
distribute them.

I am not trying to discourage anyone from spreading cheer to our
military personnel, but I would also hate to see your hard work and
money be wasted.

Also don't forget the children's floor of the hospital, group homes
for the mentally disabled, halfway houses, homeless shelters, the
Salvation Army, kids in foster care and senior citizens living in
subsidized housing would also all be grateful recipients of your good
wishes.

Linda