The Lehigh Valley Press will resume collecting items to send to military personnel stationed away from home for the holidays.

Even in the midst of a pandemic in 2020, the generosity of community members contributed to another successful Bas pour Soldiers effort. In 2020, we exceeded $ 22,000 in monetary donations (to help purchase necessary items and cover shipping costs), collected 3,000 pounds of stocking stuffer donations (including food, hygiene and d ‘other items requested) and received over 17,500 signed cards with personalized Christmas greetings showing our support for our military personnel, according to Cindy Mellinger, Blue Ridge Cable Marketing, Community Relations Coordinator and Stockings for Soldiers Central PA Project Coordinator.

Always proceeding with great care, we will organize a day of accepting donations in person at our parking lot, 1633 N. 26th St., Allentown. We will update readers with a date for this collection.

The last day for pickups at our office will be November 12th to allow enough time to wrap the socks for shipping.

This year the following items have been requested: Non-perishable items include tissues, manicure sets, sewing kits, toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss / toothpicks, razors, hand and foot warmers, body lotion, shower gel, soap (travel size), deodorant, shampoo and conditioner, shaving cream sachets, tampons, feminine towels, tubular socks (black / white only) , cough drops, Advil (individual sachets), Tylenol (individual sachets), Aleve (individual sachets), allergy medicine (individual packs), sinus medicines, (individual packs), Chapstick, Blistex, playing cards , small peg board games, ornaments (unbreakable), small stuffed animals, signed Christmas cards with messages, new boxed Christmas cards (unsigned), prayer squares, bandages, insect spray (not aerosol) Christmas stocking sach quarters, wet wipes the size of a purse and sunscreen (not aerosol).

Perishable items include: ramen noodles (sachets), coffee (K-Cups, single serving), hot cider (single serving), hot chocolate (single serving), sugar sachets (regular / sweeteners), tea bags, breakfast cereal bars, granola bars, protein bars, Slim Jims / beef sticks, cured beef, chewing gum, candy (individually wrapped), potato chips (snack size), cookies (size snack), peanut butter (take out), jelly (single serving), cheese crackers (single), peanut butter crackers (single), pretzels (snack size), nuts (single packets) and sunflower seeds (individual).

Keystone Military Families is asking us not to send hand sanitizer or anything in spray cans. They also ask that we check the expiration dates.

The collections are coordinated and distributed by Keystone Military Families in Shoemakersville. Monetary donations are always accepted to the order of Keystone Military Families. In the memo line, write Stockings for soldiers.

“In 2020, we shipped 7,240 to locations overseas and 1,850 to bases in the United States that did not have a travel order. Over the past year with a pandemic, closed businesses and people locked in their homes for months, we are truly grateful for all the support given to our troops. For many days, I have been in my office with tears of gratitude in my eyes, totally overwhelmed by the kindness of everyone involved, ”said Kyle Lord, Director of Stockings for Soldiers.

For questions regarding soldier socks, contact Debbie Galbraith, editor, East Penn Press and Salisbury Press by calling 610-740-0944, ext. 3705 or by email at [email protected]

This message is received from a woman’s family during her first deployment. “On behalf of myself and my daughter, I want to thank everyone and all the volunteers for hosting their Christmas this year. She joined the Navy in May [2020] and its first deployment was overseas; this is his first year unable to spend it with his family. When she received these stockings she cried, she felt so loved and grateful. Thank you again for all you do for all of our military families. It matters and means the world to them, you are all angels. CONTRIBUTED PHOTOS

This message is received from military personnel in Germany: “Shout out to the amazing people who have sent holiday cheer to service members in Germany who usually do not receive care packages. There are so many soldiers isolated due to COVID-19 this year and so many people away from their families this Christmas. “

Military personnel stationed in the Middle East show off the stockings they received in 2020.

ABOVE: This box of goodies is packaged and shipped to military personnel serving away from home during Christmas 2020.

This photo shows the Overseas Artillery Brigade preparing to celebrate the holidays.

RIGHT: This box is packed with stockings stuffed with the requested items.

Stocking boxes are ready to be sent to the troops in 2020.