Volunteers in Naples are continuing a heartfelt holiday tradition by ensuring veterans spending the holidays in hospitals and nursing homes receive handwritten Christmas cards.
Each card is part of Mission: Operation Christmas Cards for Veterans, started by Renee Whisner.
“They all are handwritten special notes to veterans,” said Betty from the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).
Renee, a U.S. Air Force veteran, began this mission after experiencing firsthand how much joy a simple card could bring during her year in a VA hospital.
“She said, I know what I'm doing. I'm sending cards to veterans, hospitals, nursing homes, anywhere I can think of, clinics, any veteran that has served our country deserves a Christmas card,” said Mimi Treadway, Renee’s mom.
Renee's goal was to send thousands of cards, reaching 5,000 in her first year, 7,000 in her second, and 11,000 in her last year before she passed away on Christmas Day 2023.
“A gentleman called her one day and said, 'I was at the Orlando outpatient hospital, and I got a card.' He said to my daughter, 'You saved my life today,'” said Treadway.
After Renee's passing, Treadway vowed to keep her daughter's mission alive.
“I know she's watching down from heaven, and I know she cared so much. I will not let her down. I will never let her down. I made that promise, and I'm keeping it,” said Treadway.
With the help of the VFW Auxiliary and community volunteers, the project has grown significantly.
“We're close to over 16,000 cards that are going to these veterans,” said Betty.
The project involves months of preparation, with volunteers meeting weekly to write personal notes, insert cards, and package them for delivery to over 250 facilities across 10 states.
“It is a time-consuming process,” said Betty. “But everyone should be honoring our veterans.”
For volunteers like Treadway and her team, it's about keeping a promise and making sure veterans know they are never forgotten.
This year, they are sending out more than 16,000 cards.
If you want to help bring holiday cheer to veterans, you can volunteer to write cards or make a donation through the VFW Auxiliary in Naples.