How you can support the sailors this holiday season

Naval Base Ventura County officials, in response to calls from people throughout Ventura County, present these ways to support members of the armed forces during the holiday season.

• Families can host a sailor for Christmas dinner. To make arrangements, call Chief Arnold Alonzo at (805) 9824355 or email Arnold.alonzo@navy.mil; or call Chief John MacCallum at (805) 982-6428 or e-mail John.maccallum@navy.mil.

• Another way to show support is to donate to Operation Seabee Christmas, a private, nonprofit organization that collects items and monetary donations year-round to deliver holiday packages to deployed service members overseas. The cost of a single Seabee stocking is about $20.

To make a contribution, make checks payable to Operation Seabee Christmas and send to Operation Seabee Christmas, P.O. Box 2129, Port Hueneme, CA 93041 or visit www.seabeechristmas.org/.

• Toys and gift certificates are being accepted by the Fleet and Family Support Centers at Point Mugu and Port Hueneme. Donations will benefit NBVC military families this Christmas. To contribute, call Lorraine Muñoz at (805) 982-3159.

• Every year, the United States Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program holds a national toy drive to collect toy or monetary donations to deliver a new toy to youngsters in need. For information on dropoff locations, call Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Gabriel Lopez at (805) 982-4345 or visit www.toysfortots.org.

•FOOD Share on 4156 Southbank Road in Oxnard is collecting donations of food for service members and their families.

When making a donation, indicate that it is intended for military families. Monetary donations should be designated for the Military Family Fund. For more information, call (805) 9837100.

For more options, visit www.americasupportsyou.mil.