This may be the busiest time of the year for Santa’s elves, but even they would have been impressed by the efforts of the more than 100 volunteers who participated in the weekend’s 13th annual Operation Holiday Cheer, where they assembled holiday care packages for deployed Rhode Island service members.

The National Guard Armory on Airport Road was a flurry of activity Sunday as boxes containing snacks, candy, coffee milk syrup, reading materials, soaps, shampoos, socks, games and other troves of goodies to remind servicemen and -women of home were prepared and packaged. Nearly 400 care boxes were assembled to be shipped to the state’s armed service members throughout the world who won’t be home for the holidays.

“This is a fantastic event and one of those moments, if you are someone on the receiving end of your work and of your service, that’s very appreciated,” Rhode Island National Guard Brig. Gen. Christopher Callahan told the volunteers. “When we are deployed, it is the connectivity with home that brings it all together, and this time of year thoughts tend to be of back home for our soldiers. What you’re doing today, with a lot of speed and efficiency, which we’re very appreciative of, is really something.”

The Office of the Lieutenant Governor organizes the event, in conjunction with the Rhode Island National Guard’s Family Assistance Center, the U.S. Postal Service, and the Rhode Island chapter of the American Red Cross.

“Anytime in our community where there’s something where we can either honor a former service member or veteran or a current individual that’s protecting our freedoms, in some circumstances with their lives, we try to,” Lt. Gov. Daniel McKee said.

Operation Holiday Cheer relies entirely on the generosity of individuals as well as corporate and community sponsors who provide in-kind or financial contributions.

Dozens of businesses, community organizations and cities and towns participated. The assembled packages, containing many unique to Rhode Island items, were expected to be shipped on Monday.

“Every year, this is one of those events when you leave and get in your car, you just sit there for a moment and just say, ‘That was just nice,’ There are very few times when you can leave an event where you can say, ‘My faith in people has been reinforced,’” Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian told the volunteers. “The fact that every year all of you are here and doing and giving of yourselves to help others and to remind those serving that there’s a whole bunch of Rhode Islanders wishing them well and applauding them, wishing they were home for the holidays and Christmas. It’s just a wonderful experience to be part of.”