For the 13th year, Blue Ridge collaborated with Keystone Military Families (KMF) Stockings For Soldiers in its mission to make the holidays a little bit brighter for soldiers stationed around the world.

Through a fundraising and marketing awareness campaign, Blue Ridge helped bring in funds and other community support to a program that provides gift-filled stockings to soldiers who will not be home for Christmas. KMF reports it was a record-breaking year with 11,180 holiday-filled stockings shipped to soldiers around the world just in time for Christmas.

The effort raised more than $41,000 in monetary donations to support the costs of purchasing, shipping and distributing the gift-filled stockings; provided more than 22,000 personalized messages to show support for the military personnel; distributed more than 4,000 handmade ornaments and handsewn stockings; collected 6,000 pounds of stocking stuffers, as well as 250 stuffed animals; and received more than 200 volunteer hours from several of KMF's partners, which sent volunteers to work at KMF's Shoemakersville facility.

Blue Ridge made it easy for community members to donate money through a secure website using PayPal or a debit/credit card. Every dollar raised for KMF's Stockings For Soldiers helped fund the packing of holiday stockings filled with food, hygiene products, holiday decorations, Christmas cards and other requested items, according to Cindy Mellinger, Blue Ridge marketing/community relations coordinator and the Stockings For Soldiers central Pennsylvania project coordinator.

For questions regarding Blue Ridge/KMF's Stockings For Soldiers partnership, contact Mellinger at cmellinger@brctv.com or call 717-733-6066, ext. 2551. For more information about KMF, which has a mission to provide caring support for troops, veterans and their families, visit http://www.keystonemilitaryfamilies.com.