Families of soldiers can be easily overlooked when their loved ones are called off to war. News accounts of fierce battles grab the public's attention and elicit support for the troops. While much of the nation is drawn together in a common cause, the families are left with an anxiety that is truly personal.

But thanks to the efforts of churches and volunteer organizers across the country, the families of soldiers and sailors fighting in Operation Iraqi Freedom are getting support and assistance as well.

Pastor John Horn of Lakeland Baptist Church in Carbondale, Ill., recognizes there are a lot of anxious people who need comfort. His church started a Support Our Troops group that meets each Wednesday to help meet that need in the community.

"We've used it to organize more of our congregation in prayer," Horn said. "They check in on military families, for example, where Dad is overseas now and Mom is a student at Southern Illinois University here in Carbondale and needs childcare. Sometimes there are financial needs. Unfortunately, our military people don't get paid a lot."

Horn said the program been a blessing for the families they have ministered to and it has been a blessing to his congregation.

"There is a need for God's people to get involved not just in prayer, but in practical ways," he said. "That's what we're trying to get our church to step up to do."

With a Sunday attendance of about 260, Lakeland proves that a church doesn't have to be big to have a big impact on the community.

"No, you've just got to have some folks that care," he said. "It has been amazing how people in the community have been calling and picking up on this idea. I guess it's unique. We just thought we were doing what God wanted us to do."

Calling All Saints

At Fort Campbell, Ky., home of the 101st Airborne Division, getting community involved is not a problem. With 18,000 military families stationed at the post, it would be difficult to find a surrounding community that is not touched by the war.

"I have had so many calls from people who just want to help," said Chaplain Maj. David Coram. "We have a number of helping agencies here on post, and what we've encouraged people to do is work through those agencies that are already in place."

One of the programs is the chaplainry's Operation Helping Hands, which provides food assistance for families struggling financially.

"The word got out on that and, since last Monday, we've received over $15,000 in donations. Most of these are individuals who have given money, not businesses," he said.

Coram said he thinks God and patriotic pride are both at work in communities where people are assisting families of military personnel.

Coram said he was deployed with the 101st Division during Operation Desert Storm. During that engagement, people could send packages and mail addressed simply to "Any Soldier" which would be distributed overseas. Because of security reasons, that has been eliminated and, he suspects, that is part of the reason families in this country are the beneficiaries of goodwill.

"I think they have diverted their attention, their patriotism, their desire to minister to the families," he said. "That's why we've gotten so many donations from people who want to help. I think that's the big thing. We're encouraging them to help families. If you don't have the name of a soldier and the unit address, then the mail won't go over."

Show You Care Packages

Pam Kunz of Cambridge, Md., has taken steps to ensure she and the church she attends, Jubilee Christian Fellowship, are able to send care packages to troops in Iraq.

"My son, actually, is one of the Marines over there right now," she said. "We are working with the 26th Marine Expedition Unit. I'm working with the public affairs captain to facilitate packages over there because you can't independently send these unless it is coordinated through someone."

Kunz said there are 2,300 Marines and sailors attached to the 26th and they are sending items to 1,000 or more soldiers in the 1st Marines, 10th Regiment, the unit another Cambridge soldier is attached to.

"We just ran the first week of our campaign last week and we've got enough for the first 50 or 100 boxes going out. Our hope is each box will handle either a unit or squadron - anywhere from four to 14 people per box."

The boxes contain things like eye drops, baby wipes, lip balm, flea collars to repel sand fleas and drink mixes.

"What's happening is, those folks that are in the desert, unfortunately, they can't take showers," she said. "So, the baby wipes serve as their shower. They are very, very popular. We're sending things like that, based on a list that was given to us."

Kunz said the reaction in the community of 30,000 has been extraordinary.

"The community has just really been wonderful. They got on board and people are just giving from all over the community."

Kunz said her group would be accepting donations for at least the next three weeks.

"We're hoping, over the course of the next month, we will have enough to make sure that every one of those Marines and sailors get some items."

At First Baptist Church of Springdale in Springdale, Ark., church members are adopting service members and their families for prayer and support. Nearly 200 service members have been identified as part of the church's Operation Prayer and Care.

"What we've asked our church family to do is turn in names of the service members who (they know) are currently serving, whether they are in the States or have been deployed," said administrative assistant Marilyn Horn, who is no relation to Lakeland's John Horn. "Obviously, our target is those who have family members right now deployed and in action."

Once identified and adopted, Horn said people are asked to help the families by providing such things as childcare, yard work or providing meals.

"There are numerous opportunities they would have to minister to the family," she said.

Like other organizers, Horn said the outpouring of love within the community has uplifted her.

"It's been amazing. I don't know how many calls I've had from the community, people who are unrelated to our church, wanting to have their service member's name placed on our list for prayer."

Simple Acts of Kindness

For Fort Campbell's Coram, the support he has witnessed has been overwhelming - particularly the simple acts of kindness.

He said he is reminded of a report he received from his wife when he was serving in Desert Storm that touched him deeply.

He said his wife wrote that when she was leaving church one Sunday and was on her way home, the post chaplain, a colonel in the U.S. Army, noticed that a tail light on her car was burned out. About an hour later, she wrote, he showed up at their door with a screwdriver and a new tail light to make repairs for her.

"When she wrote that in the letter, I wept because I knew that my family was being taken care of," Coram said. "For me, that was the most memorable experience that I have, with regard to my family. It was a simple act. It didn't take a lot of thought. It didn't take a lot of money and it wasn't a lot of effort, but it meant so much to me and my family, and it's something I still remember."