Operation Holiday Cheer 2025

May 29, 2025. FOS Swietoszow (SW), Poland.
Sergent Tyler Reynalds and his team weren t expecting the end up at Forward Operating Site (FOS) Swietoszow.

We were out in the field, eating MREs all day, he says with a laugh.

When their mission for the day expanded in scope and took longer than expected, he and others found themselves waiting several hours on a bus to take them back to their tents.

We were told it d be a while, he says. Half the group went to go get cigarettes and the other half wanted to go take a shower.

That s when they called the American Red Cross to ask if someone could open the Free Store after hours for them. The American Red Cross operated several Free Stores across USAG-Poland, where soldiers could walk in and get anything from bedsheets to Tapatio, all for free. Sgt. Reynolds and his team filled their bags with some toiletries for a shower and some snacks which reminded them of home. Small conveniences like the Free Store are amplified when much is out of their control and seemingly inconvenient.

This store relieves a lot of the stress we have, he says.
Photo by Brad Zerivitz/American Red Cross

Support deployed service members this holiday season by taking part in Operation Holiday Cheer. Photo: Brad Zerivitz/American Red Cross

October 07, 2025

You can help deliver a touch of home to deployed service members who will be spending this holiday season away from their loved ones. Through Operation Holiday Cheer 2025, we are collecting donations to build care packages to be delivered to service members spending the holidays far from home.

Donated items are due no later than Friday, November 21, 2025. Items can be dropped off at Red Cross chapter locations throughout the Southern California Region, including San Diego County, Orange County, Riverside County or San Bernardino County (please see below for more information).

Operation Holiday Cheer Wishlist

FOOD & SNACK ITEMS (Individually wrapped, store-bought items only)

Examples include:

Beef jerky or Slim Jims
Hydration packs, instant coffee and instant drink mixes (Gatorade, Kool Aid, Crystal light, Mio), hot chocolate packets
Snack packs of chips, cookies, crackers, Rice Krispie Treats, microwaveable popcorn
Pumpkin, sunflower seeds or nuts
Gum, hard candy, or holiday candy
Granola bars, Power Bars, cereal bars or protein bars,
Trail mix, dried fruit, fruit snacks
Tuna pouches

PERSONAL & HYGIENE PRODUCTS (Individual, travel-sized items only)

Examples include:

Toothbrushes
Tweezers
Band-aids
Chapsticks, lip balms
Disposable razors
Baby wipes or wet wipes
Deodorants
Laundry pods
Hand and foot warmers
Hair ties (brown and black)
Feminine hygiene products
Sunglasses
Painting Supplies
Small gingerbread house kits

Donation and Delivery Instructions

Donated items must be received by Friday, November 21, 2025.
Please contact Samuel Newcomb at samuel.newcomb@redcross.org to coordinate drop-off at any of our chapter locations in San Diego County, Orange County, Riverside County or San Bernardino County.

Thank you for helping us support service members this holiday season! For more information about Red Cross services for military members, veterans and military families, please visit redcross.org/military.