(KFVS) - The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services announced the launch Wednesday of a computerized, state-of-the-art Child Abuse Hotline system.

Family Services says the update is in response to complaints that its 30-year-old system was unable to handle the more than 250,000 calls reporting child abuse and neglect that DCFS receives each year.

Last year the department says they received 253,444 calls to its hotline at (800) 25-ABUSE, but the outdated system meant more than 60 percent of callers had to be called back rather than speaking immediately to a child abuse expert. They say the delays meant longer gaps in sending child abuse investigators into the field and getting children and families the help they need, a condition which new DCFS Director Richard Calica called “simply unacceptable.”

(KFVS) - The American Red Cross will be collecting and distributing cards that send words of encouragement, gratitude and cheer to America's heroes for the holiday season.

The Red Cross is inviting the public to send messages of thanks and holiday cheer until Dec. 7 by mailing them to:

Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

To ensure that cards are delivered on time for the holidays, the Red Cross says they must be postmarked no later than Dec. 7. Individuals are asked to refrain from sending "care packages," monetary donations or using glitter or any other kinds of inserts with the cards.

According to the Red Cross, the company Pitney Bowes Inc. receives cards at the special Holiday Mail post office box, and screens them for hazardous materials. The company screens, packages and ships the cards at no charge.

(KFVS) - This holiday season, we want to see what you're thankful for.

Maybe you're thankful for your family, friends or that new car you've been saving up for. Show us and your picture and story will be featured online and maybe on-air.

Send us pictures of what you're thankful for to cNews@kfvs12.com or upload them by clicking here. Don't forget to include your name, where you're from and what and why you're thankful.

If you don't have picture, simply comment on this story and tell us what you're thankful for. We'll add your comment into the story.

You can visit our slideshow from last year to see what viewers were thankful for then: