When Jo Etzel and Stacie Turnbull met about six months ago, they realized they had a lot in common.

Both had husbands serving overseas and both wanted to do something for the children in the Middle East.

So Turnbull, graduate student in agricultural education, searched the Internet and found a cause, and Etzel coordinated the efforts. The pair, along with other wives of servicemen, is working to send school supplies to children in the Middle East.

The group is collecting school supplies in drop boxes around campus.

Turnbull said in order to get more support for the cause, the women have enlisted the help of the Education Club. Members of the club are in charge of boxes in Lagomarcino Hall.

“People only do desperate things when their situations are desperate,” Turnbull said.

Turnbull said she believes giving educational supplies will help ease what she considers a desperate situation.

She said she realizes the importance of education and hopes to help give students in Iraq more opportunities.

Etzel said that, at first, she was sending supplies to her husband, who would take the donations to an orphanage.

But she realized she could involve her friends and send larger quantities overseas. So, she said, they got involved with Operation Iraqi Children.

That organization is collecting all forms of school supplies, including blunt-end scissors, 12-inch rulers, pencils with erasers, small pencil sharpeners, large erasers and colored pencils.

Notebook paper, notebooks, folders, pencil cases and backpacks are also needed.

But, Turnbull said, crayons are not needed because they will melt in the Iraqi sun.

Turnbull said they decided they wanted to be involved in that particular foundation because it was run by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and they knew whatever items they sent would make it to the children of Iraq.

“Most of us are wives of soldiers that have fought or are fighting in this war,” Etzel said.

Both said politics did not play a role in their decision to donate.

“This drive is not about politics; it’s about the children,” Turnbull said.

“We have different ideas of how we want things to go in the world and different reasons for doing charitable events. But the bottom line is that these children are quite innocent in the events that shape their lives.”

Etzel said the drive will be going on for about two more weeks for those who want to contribute. Drop boxes are located at the Ames Public Library, Cafe Diem and Stomping Grounds.

On-campus boxes are at the Memorial Union Browsing Library, Howe Hall, Curtiss Hall and two locations in Lagomarcino Hall.