KOKOMO, Ind. -- With hundreds of Indiana soldiers set to spend the holidays overseas, a group in Kokomo is soliciting donations to send care packages in lieu of presents.

Hoosiers Helping Heroes was the brainchild of several Kokomo residents, each with a tie to the military. All year they've been putting together specialized care packages, made individually for specific soldiers.

"If a parent comes up to us and says, 'My son is deployed,' we give them a form to fill out, tell us what they like to eat and we make it happen," said organizer Montana Speicherweimer.

The group is asking for the public's help in collecting food, treats and other items for their holiday push, called Operation Holiday Cheer. Everything from cookies to Christmas stockings will be sent overseas.

"It's just important to me to make sure these kids are getting treated the same way we were," said group member and Vietnam War veteran George Dean.

Staff Sgt. Ryan Boller, who just returned home from his second tour of duty in Iraq, said he knows what it means when an individual package comes in the mail.

"Just anything from home -- either friends, family or total strangers -- let people know that people still cared about us," he said. "That meant a lot to us kept us going."

In order for the packages to make it in time for the holiday, organizers are hoping to have all of the donations collected by the end of November.

More Information:

Complete Donation List