Blue Ridge Communications closed its 12th year of partnership with Keystone Military Families (KMF) Stockings For Soldiers, in which the company raised more than $28,000 in monetary donations. These funds are slated to defray the costs of purchasing, shipping and distributing gift-filled stockings to soldiers serving in the United States military around the world.

According to Cindy Mellinger, Central Pennsylvania coordinator for KMF Stockings for Soldiers and marketing/community relations coordinator for Blue Ridge, Blue Ridge collected 8,000 pounds of stocking stuffer donations, including food, hygiene and other requested items, and received more than 32,000 personalized messages to include in the boxes, including close to 12,000 crocheted and knitted prayer squares and more than 16,000 cards. The company collected more than 4,000 colored stockings, including handsewn stockings, and more than 3,500 handmade ornaments. To assist in reaching KMF's goal of 10,000 stockings, Blue Ridge asked the community to make monetary donations through a secure website using PayPal or a debit or credit card.

Also supporting the effort was Reinholds VFW Post 6759, which has been an avid supporter of KMF Stockings for Soldiers. The post has partnered with Blue Ridge since 2012.

Completing its 10th year of support through various fundraisers, Reinholds VFW raised more than $11,000 to offset the cost of shipping the stockings. In addition, the VFW collected boxes of items needed to fill the stockings.

Every year, the Reinholds VFW donates thousands of dollars to local ambulance companies, fire companies, various veteran programs and school programs, as well as many other community-based initiatives. The charitable acts are supported by the VFW's regular, lifetime, auxiliary and social members.