NEOGA - First-grader Cayla Baker held up the toothpaste tube with the zeal of a sprinter carrying a baton in a relay race.

"I brought this for the soldiers! I brought this for the soldiers!" she shouted down the hall to her teacher, Amy Kepp.

"She thought she was bringing in a million bucks," Kepp said of her tow-headed student.

Some American soldiers in Iraq may feel the same way about Baker's gift, as well as the 70 or so grocery sacks full of treasures donated by Neoga Elementary School students. And what started as a simple Earth Day project has blossomed into a communitywide effort, according to educators.

The impetus for the "care package" drive was a letter to the Journal Gazette/Times-Courier by Mattoon resident Tom Bartges, who pleaded for local troops whose time in Iraq has been extended by four to six months.

"These soldiers had given away all hygiene items, snacks and prepaid phone cards they had to the units that relieved them (thinking they were coming home and would no longer need these items) and now find themselves with practically nothing," Bartges wrote.

That letter struck a cord with Neoga first-grade teachers Amy Kepp, Amy Westjohn and Pat Thompson. Initially, they thought the collection of toiletries, snacks and other practical items from their students would go well with Earth Day on Thursday.

"As teachers do, we got to talking," said Thompson. "The more we talked, the more excited the kids became. It's become a group effort.

"It's not just schoolwide, it's communitywide too."

The three teachers approached their colleagues about getting involved.

"They were as excited as we were," said Westjohn. "It's turned out much bigger than we thought."

Most students returned home last week with memos describing the project. The goods began arriving Monday.

"They're still coming in," said Kepp. "They (the students) are just very excited."

By Friday, the enthusiasm had spread to groups like the Central Illinois Motorcycle Club, the Littlest Angels Day Care employees, the Neoga Builders and the school's bus drivers - all of whom asked to help pay for care package shipping.

"There are a lot of vets in our club," said Jon Baker, a school custodian who also belongs to the Central Illinois Motorcycle Club.

The teachers said the response has been so overwhelming that they have extended the donation deadline to April 27. For more information, contact the school at 895-2208.

Principal Lou Haskette said the project afforded the students an opportunity to participate in the effort they hear so much about.

"It was generated by the teachers and kids, and it's a wonderful idea," he said. "It makes them feel like they're helping some people a long way from home."

First-grader Taylor Gresens agreed.

"We wanted to help out," she said. "They were fighting, and they needed all this stuff."

Nathaniel West can be reached at nwest@jg-tc.com or 238-6860.