HAVERHILL — Do you ever think that you should do more to support the men and women who are putting their lives on the line in Iraq and Afghanistan?

Perhaps you're one of those folks who say, "If only I were young enough, I'd join the Army or Marines." Or maybe you disagree with the war against terrorism or aren't sure what your opinion is on the issue, but you'd still like to do something to help America's troops.

Tonight could be the homefront opportunity you've been looking for. Several volunteers are expected to show up at the Northeast Veterans Outreach Center at 10 Reed St. and fill Christmas stockings for National Guard troops serving in Iraq. The troops are members of the 211th Military Police Company, Massachusetts National Guard, based in Lexington.

Robert Houle, assistant veterans service officer for North Andover, said they can use more hands to fill the stockings. For more information, call Houle at 978-688-9525

The Merrimack Valley Military Families Support Group will also present a $4,000 check to the Gold Star Mothers, who plan to build a monument in Washington, D.C., in honor of the women who have lost sons or daughters. The money was raised during the third Annual Fly for Freedom Event on Oct. 11 at Lawrence Municipal Airport. Participants paid 20 cents a pound of their body weight to fly around the Merrimack Valley in Cessna planes.

The Northeast Veterans Outreach Center is in the building that served as St. Rita Church for many years.

The stockings will be filled with food and personal hygiene items that were collected during the support group's holiday donation drive Nov. 7 at the Market Basket on Route 114 in North Andover. Thomson, Franklin and North Andover Middle schools also contributed to this effort.

Houle said they collected two truckloads of goods altogether and also received cash donations to help with shipping.

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