NATCHEZ — During her four years as an instructor at Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Natchez, Terry Stutzman has repeatedly witnessed the generosity of her co-workers and students.

But their most recent charitable campaign was more personal than others have been.

For over a month, Co-Lin Natchez has been collecting supplies and Christmas cards to send to soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“I’m the daughter of a veteran and the granddaughter of a veteran, and now my son-in-law and my nephew are joining in January,” said Stutzman, a business office technology instructor.

On top of her family military connection, Stutzman said it is a desire to say “thank you” that made her want to participate in the collection drive.

“Every day that we get up and have our freedom, we need to stop and acknowledge the people that were so unselfish,” she said.

The collection drive, organized by Co-Lin’s Director of Public Information Mark LaFrancis, began several weeks ago and accepted items commonly requested by soldiers serving overseas.

“The soldiers that we are sending the items to all have connections to Co-Lin,” LaFrancis said. “We found out what it was they needed and wanted.”

The college collected granola bars, baby wipes, gum, pens and pencils, note pads and envelopes that were boxed up and mailed to Iraq and Afghanistan.

“They want the pens and pencils because a lot of Iraqi children and kids in Afghanistan don’t even have pens or pencils to write with,” LaFrancis said. “They will take the pens that we send them and give them away to the children.”

Included in the supplies that are being sent are almost 700 Christmas cards that will be shared by the soldiers. Many of the cards have personal messages of thanks and gratitude from Co-Lin Natchez students and faculty.

LaFrancis said the college didn’t just want to send supplies overseas though. They also wanted to help veterans in Mississippi at the G.V. Sonny Montgomery Veterans Medical Center in Jackson.

“We collected a great deal of supplies that we will personally deliver to the residents there,” LaFrancis said.

They collected nearly 400 Christmas cards for the veterans at the hospital as well as T-shirts, underwear and socks for more than half of the residents.

Stamps, toiletries, envelopes, note pads and other treats will also be donated to the medical center.

LaFrancis said donations were received from all three branches of Co-Lin.

“This was something that we did college wide,” LaFrancis said. “It was really well received at each campus.”