The eight Lehigh Valley Press weekly newspapers are again collecting items for Keystone Military Families for its Stockings for Soldiers mission.

Items are needed no later than Nov. 6.

Packages go to all branches of the military and to locations in Afghanistan, Kuwait, Korea and any other troops who request support from home.

Items are sorted and packed according to the requests from the troops or their families.

•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, 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, nuts

•Individual snacks, crackers, cookies, cheese and cracker kits

•*Peanut butter and jelly in small plastic jars

•Candy canes

•Money for shipping costs. Please make checks payable to: Keystone Military Families. Monetary donations are needed to help ship the care packages. This is always the biggest need by far.

Please note:

•U.S. Postal Service regulations do not allow anything in aerosol cans to be shipped.

•Shipping 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.

•No books accepted.

For information, call Debbie Galbraith at 610-740-0944, ext. 3705. Items may be delivered 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday to the LV Press office, 1633 N. 26th St., South Whitehall.