Columbia, SC (WLTX) - A snip here, some marker there and a whole bunch of TLC, equals some much needed holiday cheer.
"For the last 5-years," explained Anna Kate Christophillis with the American Red Cross, "American Red Cross and our national partner Pitney Bowes, have partnered together to send holiday cheer to our service members and their families down the street, across the country and around the world."
On Tuesday, second-grade students at Rosewood Elementary were snipping and writing away.
"I'm putting my card into layers so that it looks pretty," said student Ella Reidman.
Although the aesthetics are important to these kids the reason why they're writing them is even more so.
"Because they don't get to go home and see their family," explained student Kayla Jones. "
Like their personalities, every letter is different.
"My name is Emily," Emily McFall reads from her letter. "I hope you have good holidays and thank you for being a soldier."
"Happy Christmas and thank you. Be safe," reads Kayla.
"I'm just saying thank you for protecting our community," explained Ella. "Because I just think they would like to hear all these kind words."
Ella explains that she came from a military family, "My dad, he used to be in the Army and he would have been away. But he got out of the Army so he could spend time with us and now he's a doctor!"
On Friday the 9th, the cards made at Rosewood, plus thousands more will be sent to our troops.
"It's a simple message of holiday cheer," said Christophillis, "that can lift somebody's spirit and let our service members and their families know that we're thinking about them and we want them to have a special and wonderful holiday season."
Ella knows she's lucky to spend Christmas with her family and is just once voice in thousands here in the Midlands sending a very special message.
"I just want to say, I hope you get to see your family and merry Christmas!"
Anyone can participate in the Holiday Mail for Heroes Program but the deadline is Friday. For information on how to do so, click here.