DENVER — Receiving a holiday stocking stuffed with goodies will make a soldier far from home feel like a kid on Christmas morning. You can send stockings, holiday feasts, phone cards and many other packages to someone from your home state who's serving our country through online care package provider Treats for Troops (www.treatsfortroops.com).

You don't need to know anyone in the service. The company's Foster-A-Soldier Program lets you select a soldier to sponsor by home state, branch of service, area of deployment and gender.

The soldier's online profile will tell you what kinds of foods, snacks and supplies they need and want, why they chose to serve their country, and what they miss most about being away from home.

The slumping economy has taken its toll on troop support programs. According to Treats for Troops founder Deborah Crane, the number of packages being sent to the troops has fallen to an all-time low, while the number of soldiers hoping to receive a package is at an all-time high. "Service members wonder if their country is still behind them," said Crane.

The company's Denver warehouse is filled with big, bright red stockings stuffed to overflowing, holiday feasts with all the trimmings, right down to freshly baked cookies and pumpkin fudge, electronic games, phone cards, and dozens of other packages, all ready to brighten a homesick soldier's holiday. There's even a Christmas tree that comes with ornaments, battery powered lights and instant "snow."

You have the opportunity to create a personal message to go with your package, and get a personal thank you back from your soldier.

"Soldiers love hearing from someone from their own state. It gives them a real sense of camaraderie and makes them feel connected to home," Crane explained. "We civilians can never really appreciate what it means to hear your name at mail call."

For information on how to send a holiday package, visit www.treatsfortroops.com.