TURNER – Young people in Turner, Leeds and Greene will rally over the next few weeks to show support for the Army reserve soldiers of the 619th Transportation Company.

The Auburn-based company is serving in several overseas locations.

SAD 52 has announced a plan to have a community-based fund-raising effort in support of the soldiers. The school district also is issuing a challenge to other schools and community groups to join the cause.

Stacey Pellerin, volunteer coordinator for SAD 52, contacted her military counterpart for the Army Reserves in Maine to ask how the schools and communities could help the deployed soldiers.

Athena Bussiere, a volunteer of the 619th Transportation Company, joined Pellerin in brainstorming an idea that would help not only the soldiers of the 619th, but all of the 94th RRC soldiers serving in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Each of the classrooms in every school building of SAD 52 will be provided with a box and a list of useful items for the soldiers. Each student will be provided with the list and asked to collect at least one item from the list.

On April 10, the items will be collected and taken to the Oliver O. Howard Army Reserve Center in Auburn. Bussiere, with the assistance from the Family Readiness Group Volunteers and family members of the 619th, will package and distribute donated items to deployed soldiers from all over New England.

The volunteer coordinators and students hope to reach every soldier serving in the transportation, military police, medical and engineering units, including single soldiers and those who have no family.

Pellerin has issued a challenge to other schools, organizations, and area businesses to assist with donations and monetary contributions for postal fees and shipping charges.

The 619th Transportation Company was put on alert in October 2003 and mobilized in November. Its soldiers started an 18-month deployment in December.

“The government supplies our soldiers with what they need for daily living, but they miss having some of the comforts of home. They can’t always get to a military store when they are in a convoy or on the move,” Bussiere said.

Hygiene and personal care products are some of the more essential items, while Gatorade, hard candy and panty shields (used as helmet liners to prevent chafing and irritation) are valuable commodities.

For information about Community Challenge, phone Bussiere at 966-3052.