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 service members far from home this holiday season by taking part in Operation Holiday Cheer 2025. Photo: Brad Zerivitz/American Red Cross

October 07, 2025

You can help deliver a touch of home to 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.

Our goal is to send 1,000 festive care packages filled with comfort and gratitude—help us by donating items to spread the festive spirit abroad!

Donated items are due no later than Friday, November 14, 2025. Items can be dropped off at Red Cross chapter locations throughout the Southern California, including San Diego County, Orange County, Riverside County or San Bernardino County office locations (please see below for more information about how to drop off donated items).

OPERATION HOLIDAY CHEER WISH LIST

Below are items that can be donated in support of Operation Holiday Cheer 2025, or click here to view items and order from our Amazon wish list.

FOOD & SNACK ITEMS Individually wrapped, store-bought items only. Examples include:

Beef jerky
Slim Jims
Instant coffee or instant drink mixes such as Gatorade, Kool Aid, Crystal Light, Mio, etc.
Snack packs of chips
Cookies
Crackers
Rice Krispie Treats
Pumpkin or sunflower seeds
Hot chocolate packets
Gum
Hard candy
Holiday candy
Granola bars
Protein bars
Trail mix
Fruit snacks
Microwaveable popcorn

PERSONAL & HYGIENE PRODUCTS Individual, travel-sized items only. Examples include:

Chapstick/lip balm
Baby wipes or wet wipes
Bandaids
Hair Ties

DONATION AND DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS

Donated items must be received by Friday, November 14, 2025.
Please contact Samuel Newcomb at samuel.newcomb@redcross.org or Siri Sukhaseum at sirirack.sukhaseum@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.