Who’s Ready to Stuff Stockings for the 2018 Holiday Season?
August 31, 2018
It’s that time of year again! Each year, Soldiers’ Angels does a Holiday Stocking drive and asks for pledges from our Holiday Community Partners. Last year our goal was to collect 13,000 stuffed stockings. From contributions of 1 stocking to over 1,400 stockings, we were able to collect and distribute 14,767 stockings for our military heroes!
Our goal this year is to collect 14,000 stockings to distribute to deployed troops and veterans within the VA Hospital system. We’ve just opened up registrations for this year and are ready to take your pledges! We will be accepting registrations from now through November 2nd, or until we reach our capacity to distribute the stuffed stockings.
How it works 
Interested in stuffing stockings to help show our troops and veterans you care? Here’s how our annual stocking drive works.
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Gather your family, friends, coworkers, or civic group and decide on a number of stockings to pledge.
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Register as a Holiday Community Partner here.
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Begin collecting items and stockings needed to fulfill your pledge.
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Write a card to include in each stocking.
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Send stockings to your assigned representative no later than December 10th.
Stocking Stuffer Ideas
What makes a good stocking stuffer? Besides a card and/or letter, stockings should also include any combination of the following:
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Slim Jims or Beef Jerky
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Packages of Holiday nuts
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Single serving drink mix packets (i.e. Crystal Light)
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Playing cards
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Puzzle book (Crosswords, Sudoku, Word Find)
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Holiday themed writing pens or pencil
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Holiday candy (in sealed wrapping or small unopened bags)
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Candy Canes
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Peanut Brittle
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Socks
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Travel sized games
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Card games (Uno, Phase 10)
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Stress balls (holiday-themed preferred)
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Gloves (preferably black; winter; one size fits all)
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Single serving cookie packages
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Apple cider packets
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Hot chocolate
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Small notepads
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Holiday-themed lip balm (wrapping and scent)
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Caps (warm winter)
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Other holiday-themed items
Best Practices 
Here are some things to consider when stuffing and shipping your stockings.
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All food items must be store bought.
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Avoid stuffing stockings with glass, sharp objects , products containing alcohol (some mouthwash, hand sanitizer, some colognes), and aerosols.
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Fasten your stockings at the top with knit stocking caps, large black paper binders/clips, or a shoelace threaded through holes punched in top (please no staples or safety pins).
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Carefully pack the stockings with newspaper, packing peanuts, or bubble wrap to ensure minimal damage during shipping.
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Do not ship in extra-large boxes and keep box weight to less than 40 pounds.
The holiday season can be hard on our heroes. This small gesture goes a long way in bringing a bit of cheers to their lives! Read all about our program and pledge your holiday stockings here.
