12/22/2009 - Jackson, Miss.

Ten members of the Jackson State University regional chapter of America Reads Mississippi (ARM) met this morning at the Red Cross in Jackson to sort holiday greeting cards that will be mailed to local veterans and service members.

For the past three years, the Red Cross and Pitney Bowes Inc. have teamed up to collect greeting cards from across the country that offer holiday messages and thanks to service members and veterans.

This year, cards were mailed to a special post office box during the month of November and then sent to Red Cross chapters for sorting and distribution. ARM members read each card to check content.

"We were so thankful to have the opportunity to work with the Red Cross in this important event," said Ronjanett Taylor, ARM state program director.

ARM is an AmeriCorps program focused on improving reading skills of students, encouraging public awareness and support of literacy, and increasing the number of certified teachers in Mississippi.

There are currently 350 full-time members who serve in 89 school sites. ARM is made possible through a grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service and operates regionally through a partnership with five of Mississippi’s public universities.

ARM oversight at the state level is a joint effort through the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service and the State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL).

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