East Bay Lawmaker Collects Holiday Cards For Troops

PLEASANTON (KCBS) _ A Bay Area congressman is looking for help in collecting thousands of holiday cards, with the goal of getting them to our men and women in uniform.

Jerry McNerney is partnering with a number of local organizations to help get personalized holiday cards to service members stationed overseas.

He said having a son who was in the military gave him a taste of how tough the holidays can be on military families.

KCBS' Jeff Bell Reports:

"I understand what it's like to have a loved one separated from you," he said. "And the idea that that loved one of yours would hear from the community really resonated."

In addition to getting the cards overseas, McNerney also plans to reach out to service members recovering from injuries at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C. and the National Naval Medical Center in Maryland.

"You can just tell by their body language, by the family's reaction. It means a lot to them to get these cards," McNerney said.

McNerney knows that from past years as he's run the "Holiday Cards for our Troops" program three times before.

He said it is easy to get involved.

"Either make a card or buy one and write a nice inscription in it," he said. "Don't put an address or don't seal it. And then drop them off at my office."

Cards have to be dropped off by Tuesday, November 23.

Holiday Cards For Our Troops Program

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