A young lady named Esther created this holiday card for the 2011 “Operation Christmas Care” project. You can see more cards like hers at www.unclesamsheroes.com. (photo courtesy of Lee Ann Newton)

Sending holiday cheer to American military personnel is MTSU employee Lee Ann Newton’s focus as well as the focus of a recent “MTSU On the Record” on WMOT-FM (89.5 and www.wmot.org).

Host Gina Logue’s interview with Newton, executive aide for MTSU’s STEM Education Center and creator of “Operation Christmas Care,” is available for online listening here.

Now in its sixth year, Newton’s charity has sent more than 60,000 holiday greeting cards to U.S. service members recovering from wartime injuries.

The deadline to submit cards was Dec. 7, and Newton said the effort has netted more than 8,000 cards and gift items for wounded warriors this year.

“If you just couldn’t get it done for Christmas this year, please consider sending Valentine cards and candy. This will be the next card drive for Uncle Sam’s Heroes,” Newton writes at www.unclesamsheroes.com. “Enjoy your holidays and then start thinking of sending some love to our wounded for Valentine’s Day! Thank you and have a blessed holiday season with your family and friends!!”

For more information, go to the project’s website, www.unclesamsheroes.com. You also can see a slideshow of children’s handmade cards for the soldiers at the site.

To listen to previous “MTSU On the Record” programs, go to the “Audio Clips” archives here and here.

For more information about “MTSU On the Record,” contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.