S6 E11: Small Hands, Big Impact - Writing Joy Into A Veteran’s Holiday

A ten-year-old with a big heart is changing the holidays for veterans. Tucker, the force behind In Tucker’s Mailbox, shows how handwritten cards can bring comfort to veterans living in VA homes—and how a simple idea can rally an entire community. We follow his journey from practicing his signature to organizing and hand-delivering thousands of Christmas cards to VA homes in Eastern North Carolina.

Along the way, Tucker’s letters spark unexpected replies, powerful connections, and living lessons about service, kindness, and showing up for others. He also shares advice for kids who want to make a difference: start with what you love and use it to help someone else.

We round out the episode with practical holiday energy-saving and safety tips, plus a look at PowerBucks—an easy way to help a neighbor with their electric bill. If this story inspired you, share it, subscribe, and consider writing a card of your own. Sometimes, the smallest gestures bring the most warmth.

Transcript

Holiday Introduction & Guest Reveal

SPEAKER_02 0:05

All right, welcome listeners to the final episode of Flippin the Switch for 2025. We are still in the season of giving here at Jones Onslow, so to keep that going and get into the Christmas spirit, we have a very special Christmas episode highlighting a wonderful cause right here in Jacksonville. I always say the future of our local youth is so bright, and the work this individual is doing is no exception. So please welcome 10-year-old Tucker from In Tucker's Mailbox. Hey Tucker. Hi. Are you excited to be here? Yes. We're excited to have you. Okay, so to start off, I have a list of questions. I want to pick your brain all about the awesome letters you send and receive. But before we do that, I'm gonna ask you some fun questions. So when's your birthday, Tucker?

SPEAKER_01 0:45

4815.

SPEAKER_02 0:47

And what's your favorite part of your birthday?

SPEAKER_01 0:49

Eating the cake.

SPEAKER_02 0:50

Eating cake, me too. So Christmas is next week. What's your favorite part about Christmas?

SPEAKER_01 0:56

Delivering the cards to the VA home.

SPEAKER_02 0:58

And are you asking for anything special this year?

SPEAKER_01 1:01

Not really.

What Is In Tucker’s Mailbox

SPEAKER_02 1:02

No. You just like to serve others. That's really awesome. Alright, okay. I have some questions to ask you. Are you ready? Okay. So tell me a little bit about Tucker's mailbox. What all do you do?

SPEAKER_01 1:14

We write letters to people around the world. And it's really fun to see some of their answers. And we ask them about their life and career. And we got a letter from Tina Louise.

SPEAKER_02 1:31

And For those of you who don't know, Tina Louise is actually Ginger on Gilligan's Island.

SPEAKER_01 1:37

And that was really cool.

Origins Of The Veterans Project

SPEAKER_02 1:39

Yeah, that is really cool. So you get to send letters to really anybody across the world, and that's one of them. But for this Christmas season, you specifically send them to veterans, correct? Yes, ma'am. And that's perfect, obviously, for where we live. So when did you first start collecting letters and cards for veterans for the Christmas season?

SPEAKER_01 2:00

We started collecting in 2020 during COVID.

SPEAKER_02 2:05

And then it just kind of blossomed into what it is today, correct? Yes, ma'am. And then you were around five years old when that happened?

unknown 2:11

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 2:12

That's really cool. And how did you come up with the idea to do that at five years old?

SPEAKER_01 2:17

We were thinking that it was during COVID, and so the veterans couldn't have anyone come visit them. And so we thought, let's do something to give to them and give them a Christmas.

Memorable Letters & History Connections

SPEAKER_02 2:33

That's really, really awesome and very thoughtful. Okay, so a little birdie told us that when you were young, around five years old when this started, you were practicing writing your name. That's kind of how you got your start sending out these letters. Do you remember the first ever letter you wrote? It didn't even have to be Christmas time, but do you remember the first letter you sent out and who it was to?

SPEAKER_01 2:53

One of the first letters I ever received was from Manola Smith. She was on the bus with Rosa Parks and told about what happened from her perspective.

SPEAKER_02 3:01

Wow. And what what did you feel when you were reading that letter? Did you think she was going to respond? Were you hopeful that she was?

SPEAKER_01 3:08

Yes, ma'am. Whenever she was on the bus with Rosa Parks, what all happened and how she saw it that it happened.

Card Counts & Christmas Eve Reveal

SPEAKER_02 3:17

That's really awesome. So that was like your own personal account of that really big moment in history. That's really awesome that you got to hear from her. So moving on to Christmas specifically, how many cards have you gotten this year so far?

SPEAKER_01 3:30

I don't really know right now. All I know is that I've gotten more than last year. And last year we got over 5,000. And the way I learn how many I got is on Christmas Eve while we're doing all the bundles. I do a video from my Facebook page and I reveal how many I got.

SPEAKER_02 3:52

That's really cool. So just like everybody has to wait to find out how many letters you're sending out, so do you. So be sure to tune into his Facebook page this year to see how many that he's sending out for this Christmas. Can you tell us about how you deliver these cards and does your family help?

SPEAKER_01 4:08

On Christmas Eve, we do bundles of a hundred. And then on Christmas Day, we drive them to the Kinston VA home. And this year, if we get a certain amount of cards, we may end up having to go to the Fayetteville one also.

SPEAKER_02 4:26

Wow. So two stops this year, maybe. Yes. Is that exciting? Yes. Yeah. And does your family help with that process? What does that look like right before you deliver these letters?

SPEAKER_01 4:36

If we only go to the one VA home, then we can take more than just me and my dad. But if we go to just the both VA homes, then it will just be me and my dad.

SPEAKER_02 4:51

So you bundle up the cards based on how many you get each year, right?

SPEAKER_01 4:55

Yes, ma'am.

SPEAKER_02 4:56

Cool. What's your favorite part about delivering the cards when you go to the VA home?

SPEAKER_01 5:01

It's really nice seeing their reactions, especially those that don't have much family to visit them because their reactions are always the best. Right. That's all they get.

SPEAKER_02 5:12

And do you sit there and kind of talk to them and spend some time with them after you hand them their cards?

SPEAKER_01 5:17

Sometimes they shake my hand and sometimes they give me a hug. It's really nice.

Heroes, Funny Moments, And Advice

SPEAKER_02 5:25

Oh yeah, and I'm sure they appreciate it because the holidays, if you're alone, it can be a little hard sometimes, and even just a simple card and a hug can really brighten somebody's holiday. Who inspires you the most? Like a hero, a family member, or a veteran that you've met?

SPEAKER_01 5:42

Her bell Frank, he was a Pearl Harbor survivor that I wrote back and forth with a few times. I was actually invited to his birthday party one year but couldn't attend. He passed away recently, but I always remember how much pride he took in my efforts.

SPEAKER_02 5:56

Wow, that's really, really awesome. Okay, what is the funniest or silliest thing that's ever happened while you were collecting cards?

SPEAKER_01 6:05

Some of the handmade cards from the elementary schools can really be funny.

SPEAKER_02 6:09

Yes, because I feel like when you're little, you want to share everything with everybody. So I'm sure they had some fun things to say in their cards, right? Some funny and some kind of weird. Do you like to read them before you send them off?

SPEAKER_01 6:25

We don't really do that, but one time one light fell on the ground, and so then we looked inside of it.

SPEAKER_02 6:32

You took a peek.

SPEAKER_01 6:33

And it was really funny.

SPEAKER_02 6:34

It was funny. Yeah. I'm sure the veterans that receive them get a little chuckle, which again is good to have during the holiday season. Okay, we're coming down to our last few questions. How does it make you feel giving back to veterans through sending them Christmas cards?

SPEAKER_01 6:49

It feels really good, especially for the ones that don't have any family to visit them.

SPEAKER_02 6:55

And then what advice would you give other kids who want to start something meaningful like this? Because you started at a young age. You, you know, it went from practicing your handwriting to actually understanding that people are sending things back. And like you said, it's like having a bunch of pen pals in a way when you write to people or when you have other people write to them. So what advice would you give other kids who want to start something like this?

SPEAKER_01 7:18

Find something you enjoy and then find a way to use that and make a positive impact on others.

Where To Follow Tucker

SPEAKER_02 7:23

And how long do you think you're going to be doing this for? Forever and ever? As long as you can?

SPEAKER_01 7:27

Yes, ma'am.

SPEAKER_02 7:28

Yep. And I think that it's awesome what you're doing. And it's fun to get people involved in things like this for the holiday season. And as you can see, we've got a bunch of Jones Onslow employees that are wanting to participate and send some letters as well. So we're excited to send you home with some letters to add to your account. And Tucker, where can people find out more about you and what you do?

SPEAKER_01 7:52

In Tucker's mailbox. I have a Facebook page and a website.

SPEAKER_02 7:57

And the Facebook page is where you said people can tune into the reveal of how many cards you get this year, correct? Well, thank you so much, Tucker. It was great to have you on, and you're an inspiration to everybody, not even just kids your age, but us too. It's it's great what you do, and we're excited to see how many cards you get this year. So thanks for joining us. Thank you.

Energy‑Saving Holiday Tips

SPEAKER_00 8:21

Santa knows how to save energy during the holidays. To stay cozy and warm in his workshop, the elves added weather stripping around doors and windows to keep the cold drafts out. Also, Santa sets the thermostat to 68 degrees. He turns it down even more if he has a house full of elves since they generate lots of warmth. How does Santa know so much? He regularly visits the Energy Center tab at JOEMC.com to keep up with all of the tips to save energy this holiday season and the rest of the year.

Electrical Safety Checklist

PowerBucks Community Giving

Year Wrap‑Up & Sign Off

SPEAKER_02 9:02

We have had an incredible year at the co-op, and we're looking forward to bright things ahead in the new year of 2026. Christmas is just around the corner. While we wait for St. Nick to arrive, here are some holiday tips for using electricity safely around the home. Number one, inspect lights and decorations. Before plugging in holiday lights, check for frayed wires, broken bulbs, or loose connections. Replace any damaged strands. It's worth a small effort to prevent shocks or fire hazards. Number two, avoid overloaded outlets. Don't plug multiple extension cords or power strips into a single outlet. Spread out decorations across different circuits and use cords rated for the devices they're powering. Number three, keep heat sources away. Whether it's candles, space heaters, or the fireplace, keep them away from curtains, trees, and other flammable decorations. Never leave candles or space heaters unattended. Number four, outdoor safety. Make sure outdoor lights and decorations are rated for exterior use. Keep cords away from walkways and driveways to prevent tripping and avoid placing lights near water. And lastly, number five, unplug when not in use. Unplug decorations, chargers, and other electronics when you leave the house or go to bed to reduce fire risk and save energy. By following these simple steps, you can enjoy the warmth and sparkle of the season safely. Remember, electricity is a powerful tool. With a little care, you can make sure your holiday is bright and worry-free. Do you know of someone in need this season? Give them the gift of PowerBucks. Picture a neighbor coming home worried about their electric bill. With PowerBucks, you can help ease that worry. It's simple. Call 910-353-1940, choose an amount starting at$25, and we'll credit to a member in need. Want to give anonymously? We'll make sure they feel the warmth of their community without knowing who it came from. Powerbucks is more than a gift. It's a way to show compassion and a reminder that we're all in this together. Every PowerBuck you give brings a little more light into someone's life. And that's it for Flippin the Switch 2025. Be sure to go back and revisit some of your favorite moments from this year. I'm Natalie signing off. See you next year. Well, folks, that's all for today's episode of Flippin the Switch. Be sure to follow us on our social media platforms to stay in the loop with Jones Alonso. We'll see y'all next time.