Local children ship out thousands of cards to soldiers overseas

A big project that takes an even bigger heart.

Thousands of Christmas cards are being created by school-aged children and shipped to Canadian soldiers serving overseas.

“Because we need to honor our military. They are away, they are serving our military and we have to let them know we remember them and they are so important,” said local Aurora resident, Dianne Harrison.

For the 19th straight year, Dianne and Brian Harrison of Aurora are shipping the cards to those serving around the world.

Dianne and Brian Harrison of Aurora Ont. load their car with postcards for Canadian soldiers serving oversea on November 18, 2024. (CTV News/ Rob Cooper)

Several local clubs like the Aurora Optimist Club have also gotten involved.

“You put a message into the cards saying Merry Christmas, thank you for your service... some of them write very long stories some of them put their e-mail addresses in and get responses," said Diane Buchanan from the Aurora Optimist Club.

The cards have been collected at local legions and businesses. The Harrison's small apartment has become the headquarters for the operation...The local legion recognizing what it means to those who serve.

“It’s part of our mission as a legion to promote remembrance and support veterans and their families and I think this is an easy way to do that and maybe bring some kindness to someone that may be feeling lonely over the holidays,” said Bonnie Robertson the President of the Aurora Branch at the 385 Royal Canadian Legion.

Ret. Major Stephen Boyne with the Royal Canadian Legion once received cards through the program when he was serving in Croatia. He still has many of those cards today.

Thousands of Christmas cards are being created by school aged children and shipped to Canadian soldiers serving oversea on November 18, 2024. (CTV News/ Rob Cooper)

"Some kid I didn’t know has taken time, you know, to write a card for someone they didn’t know but they knew was a Canadian soldier who might be away from their family meant a lot,” said Ret. Major Stephen Boyne.

The goal is to ship 10,000 of the cards out before the holidays.

If you want to get involved in the project, you must have your letter in by the first week of December. Organizers say they are hoping to reach the 10,000 letter mark this year.