Lehigh Valley Press will once again participate in Stockings for Soldiers working with Keystone Military Families. For our readers who would also like to participate, the items needed are listed below.

All items collected go to all branches of the military and to locations in Afghanistan, Kuwait, Korea and any other Troops who request support from home. All items are sorted and packed according to the requests received directly from the Troops or their families. Since we are gearing up for the holiday season, special holiday items have been added to the list.

Requested items for 2016 include:

•Christmas stockings - 20 to 24 inches in size, handmade or purchased

•Christmas hats - Santa or elf type

•Paper or plastic Christmas decorations - no glass ornaments

•Ground or instant coffee, K-Cups and hot tea. Coffee creamer and sugar packets. Hot chocolate or hot cider.

•Power Bars,* cereal bars, trail mix, granola bars and healthy snacks

•Slim Jims, beef or turkey jerky

•Sunflower seeds and nuts

•Individual snacks like crackers, cookies, cheese/cracker kits*

•Peanut butter and jelly – small size plastic jars*

•Candy canes

•Small sewing kits and manicure kits

•Sunscreen and insect repellent*

•Chap Stick with sunscreen, Blistex

•Aspirin, Tylenol and cold meds in small packages

•Vitamins

•5-Hour Energy and similar products

•Odor Eaters (for boots), Dr. Scholl’s foot pads, blister pads

•Hand sanitizer - small size bottles to carry with them

•Mens and ladies calf high socks or boot socks in black or white

•Hand and foot warmers

•Thermal gloves or glove liners

•Pet treats and toys

•CDs* and DVDs - New or used are fine. Current releases are appreciated

****Money for shipping costs

* Items most needed or requested by the troops

***Monetary donations are needed to help ship the care packages. This is always the biggest need by far. Shipping costs have increased and it does not matter how many items are collected if there is no money to ship it. There are thousands of Troops who are counting on us to send them some love and cheer from home. In November and December 2015, 7,620 stockings were shipped to Troops all over the world.

Note: The U.S. Postal Service regulations do not allow anything in aerosol cans to be shipped. Shipping currently takes about 14 to 21 days to the combat zones. It takes about a week to get everything sorted and boxed. Please keep this in mind when you are checking expiration dates on food items. Currently not accepting any books.

Items need to be delivered to The Press, 1633 N. 26th St., Allentown by Nov. 17.

For questions, contact Debbie Galbraith at 610-740-0944, ext. 3705 or by email at dgalbraith@tnonline.com.