Every holiday season, the Texas Gulf Coast Region of the American Red Cross hosts its annual Operation Holiday Cheer initiative to care for and honor our military heroes. This year, we invite you to partner with the Texas Gulf Coast Red Cross to donate items for holiday care packages distributed to active-duty military members deployed around the world and local veterans in hospitals or nursing homes.

You can participate by donating some of the following items:

  • Decks of playing cards, fidget spinners and Board Games
  • Gum, mints, hard candy (no chocolate)
  • Individual packets of flavored drink mixes (Crystal Light, electrolytes)
  • Individual packets of powdered hot cocoa or apple cider mix
  • *Individually packaged/travel size snacks (nuts, trail mix, beef jerky, Slim Jim)
  • *Protein bars, granola bars, breakfast bars or oatmeal 
  • *Popcorn, Sunflower Seeds, Girl Scout Cookies or any cookies (Individually Wrapped)
  • *Non-perishable meat (individual packets of tuna, chicken, salmon; not canned)
  • *Non-perishable Microwavable Meals (Mac and cheese, pastas and instant mash potatoes)
  • Holiday cards and letters of appreciation (Please DO NOT use glitter, write the date, write your last name, address or any personal contact information. Please use wording that will encompass the holiday spirit without reference to religion as these will go to a diverse group of service members.)


    *Most wanted items

If you would like to direct ship donations to us, please ship to American Red Cross (Attention: Operation Cheer | Service to the Armed Forces Department) 2700 Southwest Freeway, Houston, TX 77098 

To drop off donations, please see below: (Please call office first) 

  • Houston (Office open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays) 2700 Southwest Freeway, Houston, TX 77098 
  • Coastal Bend Chapter, (361-300-1706)- 4639 Corona Drive, Suite 101 Corpus Christi, TX 78411
  • Coastal Plains Chapter, (281-476-4171)- 2610 B F Terry Blvd. Rosenberg, TX 77471
  • Southeast and Deep East, (409-313-3704)- 3901 IH-10 East Orange, TX 77630
  • South Texas, (956-564-9437)- 6914 W. Expressway 83 Harlingen, TX 78552

Deadline to drop off at a local office is November 10, 2023.