Donations needed for Op. Holiday Cheer

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Thanks to generous donations, soldiers might say, "What cheer!" this holiday season when opening packages now being prepared by Operation Holiday Cheer.

Friday, Dunkin Donuts unloaded five hundred donated pounds of coffee at the National Guard Mounted Command Armory, along with cups and lids, for the program.

Saturday, all Rhode Islanders are being encouraged to drop off donations at the Armory at 1051 North Main Street in Providence from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Operation Holiday Cheer, spearheaded every year for the past eight years by the Rhode Island Lieutenant Governor's office, collects items for soldiers and ships thousands of packages to current and former Rhode Islanders serving in all branches of the military.

Operation Holiday Cheer's wish list

• POWDERED DRINK MIX (Crystal Light, Gatorade, Del's)
• GROUND COFFEE (Dunkin Donuts, etc.)
• COFFEE SYRUP
• BEEF JERKY (NO PORK), SLIM JIMS
• COOKIES (NO HOMEMADE)
• TRAIL MIX
• SUNFLOWER SEEDS, NUTS
• HARD CANDY, CHEWING GUM (NO CHOCOLATES)
• SHAVING CREAM (NO AEROSOL CANS)
• DENTAL HYGIENE PRODUCTS
• FOOT POWDER
• DEODORANT (NO AEROSOL CANS)
• SUNSCREEN
• HAND SANITIZER
• MOIST TOWLETTES, BABY WIPES
• DVD'S (movie, tv series sets) (NO VHS)
• MUSIC CD'S (all types)
• BOOKS (NO RELIGIOUS CONTENT)
• BATTERIES (AA & AAA)
• HEAD LAMPS, WITH HEAD BANDS FOR READING AT NIGHT
• SUNGLASSES
• GAMES, PLAYING CARDS
• BASEBALLS, SOFTBALLS AND GLOVES (gloves do not have to be new)
• WHITE SOCKS (NO LOGO)