CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- Military service members will likely be spending the holidays away from their families, but the Central Virginia community can help to bring them some holiday cheer.

Blue Star Families of Central Virginia is now collecting items to send in Deployed Soldier Care Packages.

There are collection bins at the Center at Belvedere where people can deposit items they would like to donate. If giving food items, they need to be non-perishable.

Blue Stars suggests food items like beef jerky, canned fruit with pop tops, instant oatmeal, trail mix, ground coffee, iced tea mixes or instant hot cocoa.

Other items that can be donated include toiletries such as deodorant, disposable razors, chapstick, saline nasal spray, travel-size shampoo and conditioner, eye drops, sunscreen, and throat lozenges.

People can also give paperback books, stress balls, puzzle books, playing cards, pens and pencils, duct tape, sewing kits, and more.

The collection bin will be available until Nov. 11.

For more information, click here.