Wallace State drop off site for A Million Thanks

HANCEVILLE, Ala. — Wallace State Community College is a drop off location for A Million Thanks, a national program to provide support and appreciation to active military men and women through sending letters and granting betterment of life wishes, as well as providing higher education scholarships to their children.
Wallace State is the only location in the State of Alabama designated as a drop off location for A Million Thanks. Lisa Smith, director of Special Populations at Wallace State, said she’d heard of the program and in her research discovered there wasn’t a drop off location in Alabama and worked to get the college listed as a drop off point.
All of the notes, cards, letters and emails will be sorted and delivered to active military men and women. They should receive them in time for Christmas, Smith said.
The college has set a goal of collecting 5,000 notes, cards, letters and emails to send to military personnel. More than 200 were collected at the Student Investment Luncheon held last month. Several instructors as the college are encouraging their students to participate as either extra credit or for class assignments. Smith said the Student Support Services personnel have used the event as an opportunity to teach students how to write thank you cards.
“Everyone in the military likes to get mail while on active duty,” Smith said. “And when they’re away from home during the holidays, it means that much more.”
Those writing to the service men and women can provide as much information as they’d like, Smith said. They can include only their first name and where they’re from or their complete address if they would like to hear back from the recipient of their card.
There are a few guidelines for the correspondence. The notes and cards do not need to be in an envelope as they will be sorted and inspected. The cards should not have glitter, similar particles or any food substance included.
School groups and the general public are welcome to participate.
Cards should be delivered to Wallace State or postmarked by Friday, Nov. 20. Cards can be brought to office 806 on the eighth floor of the James C. Bailey Center or mailed to A Million Thanks, Wallace State Community College, c/o Lisa Smith, P.O. Box 2000, Hanceville, AL, 35077. Notes and letters may also be sent to amillionthanks@wallacestate.edu or lisa.smith@wallacestate.edu.
For more information, contact Smith at 256.352.8052 or visit www.amillionthanks.org.