As our stockings will be hung by our chimneys with care this holiday season, one local Ironton business is hoping to spread some of that cheer to the other side of the world.

Phillips Funeral Home is expecting a delivery of 100 empty Christmas stockings today. They are asking the community to come together and fill the stockings to be sent to our local soldiers serving overseas for the holidays.

“This is just a good cause,” said David Phillips. “I know we have some local people who are serving overseas. I just think that everybody needs to have a good Christmas.”

Phillips said he joined the Veterans & Family Memorial Care as a way to give back to those serving our country.

The VFMC is a network of family owned and operated funeral homes that participate in community outreach programs to honor and support people in the military.

Phillips said that once the stockings arrive, anyone could go to the funeral home and get a stocking for free. The stocking would come with a list of recommended items to be filled with, such as hard candies, vitamins, toiletries, playing cards and sun block.

Once the stocking is filled, Phillips said they could be returned to the funeral home to be sent overseas to soldiers. The deadline to turn in filled stockings is Dec. 1. Monetary donations may also be made to buy items to fill the stockings.

He is also asking for the names and addresses of Lawrence County men and women who are serving overseas so he can send the stockings to them as well.

Phillips Funeral Home is also a drop-off site for the Cell Phones for Soldiers program that the VFMC coordinates.

“People can turn in their old, unwanted cell phones,” Phillips said. “Then when we return those to Veterans & Family Memorial Care, veterans are given free minutes.

It allows veterans to have free time on the phone.”

Phillips said that the cell phone drive is a year-round project.

Phillips said all these projects are a way to let soldiers know that they are appreciated, and to send them something in return for their service.

“And to give him a little hometown recognition,” Phillips said. “To lighten their spirits and let them know we’re thinking about them.”

For more information about Stockings for Soldiers, call Phillips Funeral Home at 532-2144 or stop by between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday.