A Lawrence veterans group has joined a national effort to provide Iraqi children with much-needed school supplies.

By the middle of last week, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 852 and its Ladies Auxiliary had already collected enough supplies to overflow a large table.

“We got a lot of things: lots of pencils, tablets, folders, spiral notebooks, crayons,” said Judy Gragg, president of the auxiliary, as she ticked off the items picked up from some local schools that had just let out.

The local VFW post is participating in Operation Iraqi Children: The School Supplies Program. The program was launched about a year ago through a partnership involving actor Gary Sinise and author Laura Hillenbrand, who wrote “Seabiscuit: An American Legend.” They linked up with a nonprofit organization, People to People International, the VFW and FedEx, which ships the items overseas.

Jake Trybom, new VFW Post 852 commander, left, and Judy Gragg, the new VFW Ladies Auxiliary president, pack up school supplies destined for the children of Iraq. The local post, at 138 Ala., is participating in a national program to donate much-needed school supplies for Iraqi students.

Operation Iraqi Children’s goal is to provide supplies to every child in Iraq’s more than 1,500 schools.

Vern Russell, the VFW post’s senior vice president and past commander, said he made calls to schools last week about collecting supplies left over at the end of the academic year.

“When the kids leave school they leave behind a lot of stuff, and we’re collecting it,” Russell said.

6News video: School supplies being collected to benefit Iraqi children

School officials who have supplies they want to donate can call the VFW post at 843-2078. Individuals who want to donate can drop off supplies at the post, 138 Ala.

“We’ve sent over a lot of packages to the veterans in Iraq, but this is the first time we’ve done anything for the children,” Gragg said.