Sixth grade students in Kelly Crosby’s homeroom class at Scarborough Middle School are using their health class community service project to help soldiers stationed in Iraq by sending them DVDs, popcorn and board games.

So far they have collected more than 90 DVDs and would like to collect 300 by next week, when they plan on sending them to Iraq. The items will be sent to the members of the Augusta-based 152nd Maintenance Company of the Maine Army National Guard, which was recently deployed to Iraq.

Middle school health teacher Thomas Griffin said the students wanted to do something to help the soldiers. After speaking with some soldiers who had recently returned, Griffin learned the soldiers have a lot of downtime and the DVDs will help fill that free time with some entertainment.

“They said overwhelmingly DVDs, they couldn’t get enough of them,” Griffin said.

The students have embraced the project and collected DVDs from home and from their neighbors. Kazz Boisvert said helping the soldiers is important “because they are helping our country and risking their lives for us.”

Other students in the class felt similarly and said sending soldiers the movies will help remind them of home and help provide some moral support.

“So they know people over here appreciate what they are doing,” said Michelle Currier.

The class also is asking for some community support for the project. Those who would like to donate DVDs may drop them off at the middle school by Monday. The class would like to send out the package on Tuesday or Wednesday. For more information contact Scarborough Middle School at 730-4800.

Members of Kelly Crosby’s sixth grade homeroom class gather around some of the DVDs, popcorn and games they have collected for soldiers stationed in Iraq.