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Royer’s presents Red Cross with more than 3,000 holiday cards for area military veterans

From Oct. 14 through Nov. 16, all Royer’s Flowers & Gifts stores collected holiday cards and coloring pages from generous members of the public for area military veterans.

It’s a favorite annual tradition for Royer’s, which has a decade-plus affiliation with the American Red Cross “Holidays for Heroes” program.

In fact, Royer’s is the largest contributor among a list that also includes a senior-living center in Centre County, other corporate partners and school districts, said Laura Burke, executive director of the Red Cross’ central Pennsylvania chapter.

Amber Charnoff, Royer’s marketing manager, presented more than 3,000 cards and coloring pages to Burke on Nov. 20.

Next, Red Cross volunteers will review and sort the cards. They will be placed into totes destined for Veterans Administration hospitals, veteran homes and senior-living facilities within the 11-county chapter, which stretches from Centre in the north to Adams in the south.

Burke will be among the people making the deliveries in early December.

“I like to see how they’re received,” Burke said, “and it’s always met with gratitude and thanks. For people to just get a bundle of cards that have some personalized message in them, thanking them for their service, hoping they have a great holiday season, is always a meaningful thing.”

Burke said there’s a through line of support for service members and veterans from the Red Cross’ origin in 1881, in the aftermath of the Civil War, to Holidays for Heroes.

“Supporting our military community is a core of what we do as the Red Cross,” Burke said. “That carries through case work and helping veterans in distress and helping our active military on bases overseas. And also through supporting our veterans in giving them goodwill and well wishes during the holiday season. So it is a core of our mission.”

‘Holidays for Heroes’ cards for service members and veterans being accepted Oct. 14-Nov. 16

The image shows a sample of holiday cards and coloring pages that Royer's has received from the public in support of the American Red Cross program "Holidays for Heroes." The cards and coloring pages are given to service members and veterans.

One of our favorite annual traditions is returning Oct. 14 through Nov. 16.

During that period, all Royer’s stores will collect holiday cards and coloring pages for service members and veterans.

Royer’s has partnered with the American Red Cross “Holidays for Heroes” program for more than a decade.

Cards and coloring pages may be dropped off at any Royer’s store during normal business hours. Free coloring pages can be downloaded at royers.com/heroes.

The Red Cross offers these guidelines for preparing cards:

  • Use generic salutations: “Dear Service Member” or “Dear Veteran”
  • Be thoughtful with messages, expressing reasons why you are thankful for the service members/veterans; if you have a personal connection, such as a family member who served, consider adding that
  • Try not to be overtly religious, but messages such as “Merry Christmas” or “God Bless You” are acceptable
  • Do not include inserts such as glitter, photos, business cards
  • Do not include personal information such as telephone number, address or email
  • Sign your name

The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.

Royer’s Flowers presents American Red Cross with holiday cards for veterans and service members

Royer’s Flowers & Gifts has presented 2,300 holiday cards and coloring pages to the American Red Cross for distribution to area service members and veterans.

Royer’s collected the cards and coloring pages from the public in each of its stores from Oct. 16 through Nov. 14, continuing a decade-long affiliation with the Red Cross “Holidays for Heroes” program.

Help honor service members and veterans

You can serve your country with just a few crayons.

The Royer’s Kids Club is participating in the American Red Cross “Holidays for Heroes” program, which collects coloring pages and holiday cards for service members and veterans. 

Download one of these free coloring pages or, if you feel especially creative, make a card of your own.

Coloring pages and cards can be dropped off at any Royer’s store during normal business hours through Nov. 14.

Royer’s Flowers collecting holiday cards for service members and veterans Oct. 16-Nov. 14

Royer’s Flowers & Gifts will continue an annual tradition by collecting holiday cards and coloring pages for service members and veterans from Oct. 16 through Nov. 14.

Royer’s has partnered with the American Red Cross “Holidays for Heroes” program for more than a decade.

Cards and coloring pages may be dropped off at any Royer’s store during normal business hours. Free coloring pages can be downloaded at royers.com/heroes.

One of several downloadable coloring pages

The Red Cross offers these guidelines for preparing cards:

  • Use generic salutations: “Dear Service Member” or “Dear Veteran”
  • Be thoughtful with messages, expressing reasons why you are thankful for the service members/veterans; if you have a personal connection, such as a family member who served, consider adding that
  • Try not to be overtly religious, but messages such as “Merry Christmas” or “God Bless You” are acceptable
  • Do not include inserts such as glitter, photos, business cards
  • Do not include personal information such as telephone number, address or email
  • Sign your name

The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.