{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://upton.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=360931", "Support our Troops and Veterans with Holiday Mail for Heroes", "2013-11-11", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "This Veterans Day, Congressman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, is encouraging folks in Southwest Michigan to share some holiday cheer with service members, veterans, and their families by participating in Holiday Mail for Heroes.\u00a0\"It\u2019s such a simple thing to sign a card to let our brave men and women in the service \u2013 and their families \u2013 know we appreciate their work. And yet it means so much,\u201d said Upton. \u201cI hope everyone will take a moment to participate in this program.\u201d The American Red Cross is in its seventh year of making sure personalized holiday cards of appreciation are sent to service members and their families. Upton is again facilitating the operation by accepting cards meant for the troops and their families at his constituent service offices in Kalamazoo and St. Joseph. Cards dropped off at the offices by December 4 will be forwarded to the Holiday Mail for Heroes program. Cards can be mailed to the offices or dropped off. \u201cLet our troops know how much their dedication is valued by the American people,\u201d Upton urged. \u201cThe holiday season is one of the best times to acknowledge their work.\u201d The Holiday Mail for Heroes program is an extension of the Red Cross\u2019 work with more than 2 million services members and 24 million veterans each year. It provides a \"touch of home\" for veterans, military families and active duty service members in hospitals, military installations and other locations around the world.\u00a0 The American Red Cross has asked card senders keep in mind a few guidelines:\u00a0\u00a0 Do: * Include a heartfelt message and signature.  \r\n* Use generic salutations such as \u201cDear Service Member.\u201d   \r\n* Bundle large quantities of cards in large mailing envelopes or flat rate postal shipping boxes. Envelopes are not necessary for the cards. Don't: * Send letters, packages or monetary gifts \u2013 only cards are accepted.  \r\n* Include personal information such as home or email addresses on the cards.  \r\n* Include inserts of any kind; these items will be removed during the reviewing process.  \r\n* Use cards with glitter or use loose glitter -- \u00a0it can aggravate health issues of ill and injured service members. Holiday cards sent directly must arrive by December 6 to:\u00a0 Holiday Mail for Heroes  \r\nP.O. Box 5456  \r\nCapitol Heights, MD 20791-5456 Upton is collecting cards at his district offices located at: Kalamazoo District Office  \r\n157 South Kalamazoo Mall  \r\nSuite 180  \r\nKalamazoo, MI 49007  \r\n269-385-0039 St. Joseph / Benton Harbor District Office  \r\n800 Centre  \r\n800 Ship Street  \r\nSt. Joseph, MI 49085  \r\n269-982-1986 For additional information and card requirements, please visit: http://www.redcross.org/news/article/Red-Cross-Kicks-Off-Holiday-Mail-for-Heroes-Campaign  Or http://www.redcross.org/support/get-involved/holiday-mail-for-heroes", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://upton.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=360931"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8301869966089725, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}