It's that time of year again! We are collecting handmade holiday cards for the residents of the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Petworth. This is a great activity to do with your kids or students -- or with your friends.

These cards bring joy to the retired vets who spent their life in service to all of us. Please spread the word and help us handout a card to every retired soldier we can this holiday season.

Last year we handed out over 600 hugely appreciated holiday cards from all over the country. The cards are delivered along with some hugs, singing and lots of holiday cheer.

The deadline for this small but meaningful way to help experience the joy of giving back in our own backyard is Friday, December 11th.

The delivery team is a group of neighborhood kids who came up with the service project four years ago. They work hard to gather sort and deliver the cards and dress up in awesomely festive holiday flare. They perform several caroling classics while delivering the cards!

In the event the number of cards exceeds the number of residents, all of the remaining art will be shipped to operation gratitude for placement in care packages of persons serving overseas.

Please help spread the word and lets make this years card drive a big success!

If your school, daycare, office, child or a next door neighbor is interested in making holiday cards, the organizers will be happy to pick up the cards you make or you can drop them off.

Contact Sarah Gabriel with any questions.

Pics courtesy of Sarah Gabriel