Holiday Stockings for Soldiers

Yes, I know it is only September and the leaves have not even begun to change colors here, the kids just went back to school and the pumpkins are not yet ready to be picked. Unfortunately in order to get our holiday packages to our troops on time we need to start getting everything together and raising the funds to ship the packages.

This year we are doing Holiday Stockings for Soldiers and our goal is to send 5,000 stockings to the troops on our care package list. That right you read that correctly. Our care package list of names now exceeds 5,000! How would you like to be the Grinch that has to decide who doesn't get a stocking? NOT ME! So to avoid that problem we plan on sending one to every soldier, sailor and marine who has asked us for mail and care packages. I know that with the help of all of our readers we can accomplish this mission just like all of those troops are accomplishing theirs!

Here's how it will work and what we need to get the job done:

We need as many people as possible to start making or purchasing the stockings. They can be for male or female and should be approximately 12" or larger. Please don't make them too large. Remember we have to fill all these stockings too! We do already have some volunteers working on making stockings but 5,000 is a huge number. Church groups, scout troops, schools and individuals are all encouraged to join in.

The next step is to start getting travel size toiletries, individually wrapped snacks, puzzles, games, candy canes, stationary items and anything useful or needed by the troops that will fit in the stockings. We have already received some items from companies that want to help. We have power bars and bug & sting healer so far.

I will be sending letters to lots of companies to ask for their help, however there are a lot of support groups and believe it or not in the last 6 months the corporate world seems much less inclined to help groups like ours. It appears it will be up to us through individuals to acquire most of what we need to stuff the stockings.

The next hurtle will be the postage. We are going to need people to donate directly through Paypal or by check or money order to help get all the packages sent. We have volunteers who will help us pack the boxes and write the customs slips.

I have 8 copies of the If I Fall CD and Video by Cliff Soon that has been featured here on our site. I also have 6 assorted Keystone Soldiers and Keystone Marines Tee Shirts in various sizes. The top 5 donations in September and the top 5 in October will get their choice of prizes! This applies to monetary donations only. The other 4 prizes will go to the top physical donations. That is the stockings and items to fill the stockings. There will be 2 for September and 2 for October.

If you have a group that would like to do the stockings from start to shipping please contact us. We will give you the addresses to ship the stockings to and that will save the expense of you shipping to us and then us paying to ship to the troops.

Our deadline for receiving the stockings and the items is November 1st! Remember we have to stuff the stockings and then get them sorted by divisions of troops and then pack them for shipping. We will need everyone's cooperation to get this HUGE project done, but I know we can do it!

We are also currently in need of boxes of holiday cards to send to the troops so they have some to send to family and friends. There are PXs in some areas but supplies are going to be limited and not everyone will have access to shop. It would be nice for the troops to be able to send cards home if they want to.

If you have any questions please feel free to email us at: keystonesoldiers@gmail.com or keystone@keystonesoldiers.com and we will answer you as quickly as possible.

If you would like to make a donation through Paypal there is a button on the left side of the main page of our site at www.keystonesoldiers.com. If you would like to donate by mail please make all checks or money orders payable to Keystone Soldiers and mail to:


Keystone Soldiers
PO BOX 152
Fleetwood, Pa 19522-0152


Our Tax ID is available on request. We are a 100% volunteer non profit organization. Every penny of your contribution goes to the troops and their families.

Thanks for supporting our troops!

~Lordzmom