The holidays are still a few months away, but for those already tackling their shopping lists, Fox Valley Troop Support Inc. hopes they’ll keep troops serving overseas in mind.

“We’ll have more troops deployed than any previous Christmas,” said Sarah Giachino, co-chair of the organization. “We would really love for people in the community to think about doing something for them.”

The Illinois National Guard is experiencing its largest deployment since World War ll, with many of those soldiers from the Charlie Troop 2nd Squadron 106, based in Aurora.

Fox Valley Troop Support’s mission is to support local troops deployed around the globe with letters and care packages.

Many from the community are already joining their effort, Giachino said.

“We have people calling asking what they can do to help,” she said. “There seems to be a lot of interest.”

Local schools have offered to collect leftover Halloween candy to use as stuffing for care packages and several Scout Troops are organizing care package drives around Veterans Day in November.

Just days after her brother departed for Iraq with his Marine Corps unit Sept. 15, St. Charles East High School freshman Annie Martines helped organize an effort to help out troops.

Throughout October, East volleyball teams are hosting Operation Service Ace, where they are collecting nonperishable grocery items during volleyball games to ship to troops in Iraq in November. Items are also being collected in the student activities office.

“They’re saving us,” said Annie, whose 20-year-old brother, Alec, is stationed 75 miles west of Baghdad. “They’re helping us out. We should do something to give back.”

Her father, Bob Martines, coordinated the event with Giachino and her daughter Victoria, a St. Charles East senior.

“It raises awareness. A lot of kids don’t consider they have classmates who have relatives (in Iraq),” Martines said. “They’re high school kids — it’s not a big concern, but once they realize the sacrifice (troops) make, they realize they’re a big help.”

Another East freshman, Maddy Desso, has a brother, Ryan, who is a private in the Army in the heavily deployed 4th Battalion 31st Infantry stationed in Fort Drum, New York. Ryan Desso was a football player on East’s varsity team.

Fox Valley Troop Support Inc. is partnering with the Batavia Veterans of Foreign Wars to offer several community care package dates. Donated items including personal care items and nonperishable food for the holiday care packages can be dropped off from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5; 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6; and 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 8, at Batavia Veterans of Foreign Wars, 645 S. River St.

Any service organization that would like to collect items for care packages or host a fund drive to help defray postal rates can contact Giachino at (630) 587-3789 or myconfident@aol.com or Kathy Toboush at (630) 406-9172 or Kasha2226@aol.com.