Sunny Hill Care Center residents pictured recently with just some of the 1,500 cards they are sending to U.S. service members based overseas this holiday season via the nonprofit service organization United Soldiers and Sailors of America (USASOA). This is the third year residents have participated in the endeavor. PHOTO BY MICHAEL P.O. BOX DAVIS

TAMA – The residents at Sunny Hill Care Center in Tama have marked another milestone this year by sending a whopping 1,500 holiday cards to U.S. service members stationed overseas.

The activity was initiated by activity director Mary Jo Cherveny three years ago and is part of United Soldiers and Sailors of America’s (USASOA) program ‘Christmas Cards For Our Troops.’ USASOA is a nonprofit military and veteran service organization.

In 2022, Sunny Hill residents sent 750 holiday cards followed by 1,000 cards in 2023. The goal this year was to send 1,300 cards — a goal the care center’s participating residents knocked out of the park.

“We start on Nov. 1 [each year] and continue to work on them every few days until our goal is met,” Cherveny explained. “Our residents add a special message, a written holiday greeting or just sign their name. We have about 15-20 residents who are able to do this without help.”

For those who want to participate but need a little help with writing, care center staff assist, Cherveny said.

“Our residents love doing this project, it is a way for [them] to continue to support our troops all over the world. It is just as important that our residents remain active in our community — by doing so they continue to feel connected to our community and know that they do make a difference.”

Once completed, all the cards are sent without envelopes as a package to USASOA in Maryland where they will be sorted and eventually mailed all around the world to U.S. servicemen and servicewomen stationed overseas.

Sunny Hill is currently home to six local Veterans, Cherveny said. Back on Nov. 11, they participated in the reverse Veterans Day parade, breakfast and program hosted by STC. Later that afternoon, Sunny Hill staff set up a ‘Missing Man’s Table’ and presented gifts to each of the Veterans while taking a few minutes to honor them; a social hour followed.

While Sunny Hill’s holiday card endeavor has finished for the current year, Cherveny said she will continue to accept donations from the public of new Christmas/holiday cards (please no envelopes!) for use next year in hopes the current card record will be broken once again.

Sunny Hill Care Center is located at 1708 Harding Street in Tama. For more information on donating holiday cards for use in 2025, contact Cherveny at maryjo@sunnyhillcarecenter.com.