Please keep in mind that many of the soldiers are out "in the field" and are only able to have what they can carry.  It is also hard NOT to give away your presence if you are wearing heavily scented products!  We are requesting items in small sizes and/or individually wrapped to keep out sand, water, insects, etc. 

WE DO NOT ACCEPT SILLY STRING!! Although there has been much media attention about the use of Silly String to detect explosives/booby traps, we can not ship aerosol cans.

Please click on the following link to find the nearest location to drop of your donations: Partner Collection Sites

SNACKS/FOOD TREATS:

• Hard Candy or Licorice- individually wrapped

• Microwave popcorn packets

• Dried fruit, Nuts (packaged or small cans)

• Beef Jerky, Slim Jims, or Beef Sausage (must be individually wrapped or packaged -absolutely NO PORK PRODUCTS).

• Granola or Protein bars

• Sunflower or Pumpkin seeds

• Chips in cans or boxes

• M&M Candies (year-round, these survive the summer heat)

• Chocolate candies  (only Oct. through Feb. 15th)

• Crystal Light, Kool-Aide, any brand of Iced Tea Mix.  Please note: Many of these products come in tubs even though they are inside boxes.  Please look at the directions on the box. We are requesting INDIVIDUAL PACKETS that "can be poured directly into a water bottle or a glass".

• Hot Cocoa, Coffee, Tea (indiv. servings/packets preferred) or bags or cans, no jars please.

• Cookies - Store bought - in sturdy boxes or tins only please

• Cheese or dips in cans or Velveeta cheese blocks (boxed)

   I GIFTS/MISC. IDEAS:

• T-Shirts with logos from Sports Teams, Bars, Motor Cycles/Shops, etc.

• Flannel pants, boxer shorts, black leather snow gloves, black knit hats

• Model Kits - Planes, ships, cars, military vehicles, etc. (+model glue)

• Hickory Farms (or like type) Cheese/BEEF Sausages (no jars please - cheese must be type that needs NO refrigeration)

• DVD's, CD's - Latest releases preferred but ALL accepted

• Footballs, Soccer Balls, Baseballs/Softballs/Gloves/Bats

• Crafts: Needlepoint, knitting, crochet, kits, etc. (small projects to do)

• CD players (used is fine if in working condition (for hospital patients)

• Board Games (new only please - Monopoly, Risk, etc.)

• X-box games new or used

• Decks of playing cards

• Small crossword puzzle books/magazines, Sudoku, etc.  or pocket-size books/magazines (found at grocery store check-outs)

• Small, hand-held electronic games/toys (can be battery operated), Rubix, mazes, sliders, etc.

• Batteries - AAA, AA (most popular), C 

• Writing pads/envelopes, blank note cards

• Box of All Occasion Cards (to send home to family, etc.)

• Holiday decorations - all holidays - must be received no later than one month in advance

• *Magazines - new only during the holidays. Sports related or men's or women's hobbies; People, Ladies Home Journal, etc. are good choices.

• International phone cards (AT&T or through AAFES preferred)

• I-Tunes Gift cards (for I-Pods)

• Blankets & pillows

• Weight Lifting gloves

• Flash lights

• Shower shoes (clogs or flip flops)

• Towels (all sizes)

• White mid calf socks - no logos, etc.

      PERSONAL HYGIENE ITEMS: Prefer travel or purse-size (in tubes/plastic bottles)

• Antibacterial Face Wash/Scrub

• Shampoo (prefer travel size but no larger than 8oz-mostly for men)

• Razors & refill blades (triple blade preferred)

• Foot powder, body powder - (ex. Gold Bond, Johnson's)

• Antibacterial cleansing cream/lotion/gel

• Hand/body wipes (baby wipes) in travel size packets please

• Chap Sticks, lip balms, salves

• Hand lotion (small squeeze tubes or bottles)

• Toothpaste, dental floss, tooth brushes

• Q-tips (small pkgs. please)

• Emory boards, nail files, nail clippers

• Shave gels (no aerosol cans for shipping - only for local hospital patients)

• Stick deodorant (AXE much preferred for the men)

• Air fresheners or scented candle (no plug-ins)

• Combs, hair brushes for females only

• For females: hair pins, clips, bands (must match hair colors)

• Tan boot laces

• Insoles, corn protectors

*Any showing political messages or any pictures/materials rated worse than R or showing skin usually covered with under-clothing, will not be sent abroad due to foreign country customs regulations and the U.S. Dept. of Defense guidelines.  Random packages are inspected upon arrival in other countries.

Thank you for visiting Operation Pinecone's website, please remember...

A little donation can go a long way!

If you are interested in contributing, volunteer opportunities, or more information, you may e-mail us:  Contact Us or 703-327-6628. 

A financial statement is available upon written request from the Office of Consumer Affairs, Commonwealth of Virginia.

Operation Pinecone

43377 Hyland Hills St.

South Riding, VA 20152

Thank you on behalf of our all-volunteer team

Mary Hacker, Founder/President