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Military Families Ministry Inc. and Civilian Supply Corps Inc., both 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, have announced their partnership for the 2026 Stockings for The Troops collection drive.
The annual initiative brings community support to deployed service members during the holiday season.
Donations will be gathered throughout the month of November 2026. Volunteer teams will stuff the stockings and send them directly to deployed troops during December 2026. In addition to physical care items, monetary donations are being accepted to assist with shipping costs.
Organizers are seeking specific food, snack, entertainment and hygiene items suitable for troop care packages:
Items accepted for stockings include: Hard candy, Twizzlers, drink mixes for water bottles, hot chocolate, oatmeal, food bars (protein, cereal, nuts, granola), snack packs (cheese or peanut butter crackers, nuts, pretzels, chips, potato chips, ramen noodles), Slim Jims, beef jerky, ChapStick, toothbrushes, toothpaste, decks of playing cards and card games.
Donations accepted separately from stockings include: Soap, deodorant, razors, lotion, body wipes and other personal care items.
Donors are also encouraged to include Christmas cards with a brief note thanking service members for their service.
Donations can be delivered throughout November to designated drop-off sites across the region:
Altoona: The DeGol Organization (3229 Pleasant Valley Blvd.), ARC Federal Credit Union (1919 Seventh Ave. and 419 N. Seventh St.), and M&T Bank (301 Plank Road).
Bellwood: The Bellwood-Antis Public Library (526 Main St.) and Mayhue's Garage (601 Main St.).
Tyrone: Mac's Market (1658 Columbia Ave.) and Kelly Wike State Farm Office (1203 Pennsylvania Ave.).
Hollidaysburg: McQuaide Blasko (601 Hawthorne Drive, Suite 2A) and The Hope Center Inc. (421 Main St. -- email to schedule drop-off).