Operation Santa collecting goods to send to soldiers

Posted on October 29, 2017
Operation Santa is making a list and checking it twice for goods to send to soldiers stationed abroad this Christmas. (Photo courtesy Facebook/Operation Santa)

By Patrick Baron

BLOOMINGTON – A local group is seeking donations to send stockings to soldiers overseas this holiday season.

Operation Santa is asking the public to donate goods such as hot sauce, individually wrapped beef jerky, hot chocolate, and candy to the soldiers who can’t spend Christmas at home, which will be delivered to them in homemade stockings.

Operation Santa spokesperson Chris Metz said when she receives pictures of the soldiers with the stockings, it brings a smile to her face.

“The pictures that we get back are just awing,” Metz explained. “To see the young men and women with the big smiles holding their stockings – there’s one where a man’s got his German Shepherd on a leash and the dog has a stocking in its mouth.”

Operation Santa shipped around 3,600 stockings last year, costing around $15,000-$20,000. Metz said in previous years they have sent around 10,000.

The group is accepting donations until November 25 this year and can be made at Operation Santa’s headquarters at 380 Wylie Drive in Normal. You can see the full list of items needed at operationsanta.us.

Patrick Baron can be reached at [email protected].

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