By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
December 9, 2004

Students at Sacred Heart School in Sioux City raised money to send phone cards to American troops serving overseas.

"As we go into the season of Advent, we are reminded of the importance of sharing God's blessings," said Brenda Ferrie, principal at Sacred Heart. "We felt this was a wonderful way to give back to those who are serving our country."

Two students presented a stocking filled with 105 two-hour phone cards to Chief Dave Miller and Sgt. Jerry Collins of the 185th Air Refueling Wing on Dec. 2 at an all-school assembly. Sgt. Collins' children attended Sacred Heart.

Chief Miller noted that "having been there - Turkey, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia - it is very important to have things like this to be able to stay in contact with our families. Not only for our sake being over there but also for our families being here, they like to hear our voices as well. On behalf of those folks that are over there right now, thank you."

Three student council members, Anne Pehling, Kelsey Tweet and Buckley Wright, extended thanks and gratitude to the soldiers that are risking their lives. They also thanked Sacred Heart for bringing in the money so that the soldiers would be able to contact their families during the holidays.

"It's really nice when the guys get a break from their field duty to have the opportunity to make a call. We really appreciate all your efforts and all your kind thoughts and wishes," said Sgt. Collins.

Each class in the school also made a Christmas card to send to the troops with the phone cards. The cards were decorated with a message inside and signed by each student in the class.

"I think it was good that we helped them because they really wanted to call home to their families and they were missing them," said Tweet.

During the assembly, the cards made by the students were given to the two men by a representative from each class.

"I think it was important to help them because they are helping us to keep our freedom and be able to stay here and live life to the fullest," said Wright. "I feel great about helping them because they have helped us, too."

A Sacred Heart parent had approached the school about doing something for the troops. The student council came up with the idea to have a jeans day after learning that many troops wanted phone cards for Christmas in order to call home. Each student was able bring a dollar and wear jeans for the day. The jeans day was held on Dec. 1 and raised $429.

"We had called to the 185th and asked them what was the most important thing they thought soldiers would like receiving during the Christmas season and they said the phone cards," said Ferrie.

According to Ferrie, this project "shows good stewardship. Our kids really care about others and what is going on in the world. I think it is important that they know how blessed we are to be home with our families."