The Sam Houston State University Political Science Junior Fellows are coordinating a care package drive to send basic necessities as well as the comforts of home to the soldiers serving in Iraq.

This is the first year of the drive. So far, nearly 20 organizations from SHSU as well as the Huntsville community have participated in collecting items.

The Junior Fellows will be collecting DVDs and CDs.

The Walker County Fair Association board has begun collecting sanitary handwipes and hand sanitizer, while the Walker County Lions Club has also committed to sending eye drops to coincide with their philanthropy.

In addition, the Huntsville-Walker County Chamber of Commerce has signed up to collect 100 disposable razors, according to Chamber interim president Carol Smith.

Smith said fair association members and Chamber members can drop off their items at Saturday’s fair association Halloween carnival at the Walker County Fairgrounds and at the Chamber ofifce.

Other organizations participating include the Walker County Democrats, the College of Education at SHSU, Beta Sigma Phi, the Veterans Resource Center at SHSU, the Registrar’s Office at SHSU, the Walker County Republicans, the Walker County Republican Women, the YMCA and the YMCA Teen Center.

Individuals contributing include Campe and Virginia Miller, Karl Davidson and Tamara Chasteen.

“Next year, we would like to double that and have 30 to 40 organizations participate,” said Junior Fellow’s faculty adviser Mike Yawn.

Items being donated include hard candy, gummy bears, small packs of cheese and crackers, nerf balls, travel-size gold bond, liquid soap, Ziploc bags, decorative beads and educational materials.

In all, the Junior Fellows hope to send out 100 boxes.

“We hope to have everything in hand by Nov. 4,” Yawn said.

On the evening of Nov. 10, the Junior Fellows will move and assemble all donated items to the Walker Education Center and the YMCA Team Center.

This will be done so that the items can be easily sent out to the soldiers serving in Iraq.

“We would just like to say (with this gesture to the soldiers) that the community of Huntsville supports you and your service and your sacrifice,” Yawn said.

The SHSU Junior Fellows is a civic organization that promotes public service, education and professionalism.

In addition to volunteering for non-profit organizations, students of the organization also host educational seminars, assist with special events locally and travel to historic sites.

For more information, contact Mike Yawn at (936) 294-1456 or visit the Junior Fellows Web site at http://www.shsu.edu/~org_psjf/ .