Topeka ? A church congregation is trying to collect 3,000 pairs of shoes in the next two weeks to send to children in Iraq.

So far, members of West Side Christian Church have collected about 100 pairs, which are on display in the church’s foyer. The congregation is looking to area residents — church members or not — to join in the goodwill gesture that organizers hope will help needy youngsters and paint a brighter picture of Americans, to boot.

“We want them to know that people in America care about the people there,” said church member Shan Roe, 69, who began the drive with her husband, Bob.

The Roes initiated the drive after a nephew serving in Iraq, Lt. Col. Joe Martin, told his wife — who is in Fort Hood, Texas, with the couple’s two children — about the plight of Iraqi youngsters as temperatures soared to 120 degrees.

“He was struck by the fact that some of the children he saw were wearing what he thought were inadequate shoes,” Bob Roe said. “He noticed kids would cut out the toes of their shoes so they would last as long as possible, until the soles wore out.”

Martin is commander of the Army’s 1-67 Armor Battalion of the 4th Infantry Division, with 600 soldiers and 44 tanks under his command. His battalion was deployed to Iraq in July.

The Roes took Martin’s plea for help to their congregation, which ran with the idea.

From a single box of shoes Sept. 7, the church now has a table full of sandals, dress shoes and athletic shoes. People also are asked to donate $1 to cover postage.

“We’ve asked for new or lightly used shoes, and we’ve gotten almost entirely new shoes,” said Suz McIver, pastor of West Side Christian Church.

The shoes will be dedicated Oct. 5 during the church’s World Communion Day services and will be mailed to Martin’s battalion in Iraq.