Join the Northwest Region of the American Red Cross in honoring military heroes this holiday season through our Holiday for Heroes initiative. This year, we invite you to partner with us in providing holiday care packages to active-duty military members deployed around the globe and spreading holiday cheer to local service members and veterans in Washington state.

The local Red Cross team is preparing care packages destined for Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base, Romania, and the 2,400 U.S. service members currently deployed there. You can support this initiative by donating any of the following items before November 14, 2025:

• Individually packaged snacks (e.g., chips, cookies, chocolates, candy/holiday candy, microwave popcorn, crackers, nuts, trail mix, beef jerky, & sunflower/pumpkin seeds)
• Protein bars
• Microwave popcorn
• Ramen noodles & Cup Noodles
• Girl Scout cookies
• Single-serve peanut butter packets/pouches
• Individual drink mixes (e.g., Gatorade, Powerade, Propel, Crystal Light)
• Feminine hygiene productsi. Laundry detergent (pods or sheets)
• Shower shoes/flip flops in multiples sizesk. Travel-size alcohol-free mouthwash
• Travel-size shampoo & conditioner
• Travel-size body wash
• Travel size lotion
• Travel-size sunscreen
• Body wipes/baby/wet wipes
• Foot powder
• Deodorant (non-aerosol)
• Hair ties (brown & black)
• Hair products for curly/textured hair
• Non-aerosol shaving cream
• Disposable razors
• Hand & foot warmers
• Coloring books
• Colored pencils/markers
• Military sewing kits (e.g., Army Green Service Uniform Sewing Kit)
• Plug adapters (type C or F)

Collection, organizing and shipping will take place at our office on Joint Base Lewis McChord, although we may be able to coordinate donation drop-offs at Red Cross locations throughout the region. Please contact: JBLM@redcross.org for guidance.

Holiday Mail is a decades-long tradition that enables Americans to “Give Something That Means Something” during the holiday season. We’re accepting cards and individually packaged cookies that will be distributed to veterans, service members and families in Washington state. Cookies must be individually packaged, we cannot accept donations of homemade cookies.

Guidelines for Holiday Cards:

• Cards can be purchased or homemade.
• Please ensure all cards are signed and do not include envelopes. 
• Please sign with your first name only.
• Use generic salutations such as “Dear Service Member,” “Dear Veteran,” “Dear American Warrior,” or “Dear Military Family” and write your best wishes for the holidays and a heartfelt thank you for their service.
• Do not include email addresses or home addresses on the cards
• No glitter. Please refrain from choosing cards with glitter or using loose glitter

Delivery Instructions

Cards and individually packaged cookies should be dropped off at our Red Cross office no later than Wednesday, December 3, 2025 to ensure timely delivery for the holiday season.

American Red Cross

4201 West Way

Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA 98433

Red Cross representatives will be present to accept donations from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Additionally, there is a drop box outside the office location where cards can be donated.