In the time it takes most students to eat breakfast, others at Ivy Hall Academy in Provo are lending a hand to troops overseas.

For what is only supposed to take an hour of their time, students at the school have been collecting basic personal items for servicemen and women in Iraq for more than a week, during their monthly "Power Hour" activity.

"I never knew all of the things they don't have," said Corey Stapleton, 12, who attends Ivy Hall. "If I had known before, I would have wanted to do something sooner."

Susan Kirby, the private school's director, said they began collecting items for their monthly "Power Hour" project, after one parent emphasized certain needs aren't being met overseas.

"Up until two weeks ago I didn't have any idea that the troops didn't have basic things like a toothbrush and toothpaste," said Kirby.

The parent group, including Kirby, searched for information on how to send the items, what is most needed, and who they could send them to.

After hearing from her brother, who will soon return from Iraq, parent Joei Mussoletto made a list for the school's 145 students with the little things the troops need most.

"I think it was a great idea, just because the students hear so much about it, with the different political things going on. Everyone is just so for or against it," said Mussoletto. "No matter how parents feel, the students need to know we still support the soldiers. They still need us."

Snacks, AA batteries, black socks, sheets, notebooks and toiletries all made the list of things often overlooked by Americans as needed supplies. The school also asked for money to help ship the items to the Army Post Office in the United States.

"The trick is to find a particular person to send things to," said Kirby. One student's cousin, Sgt. Jason Fisher, will receive and distribute the supplies the school sends. His stay was recently extended three months.

Students have donated everything from shampoo to beef jerky, so far, and Kirby is hoping to complete the project sometime next week.

"The only thing on the list we didn't end up getting is insect repellent," she said. A few of the school administrators have decided to buy it as their donation for the project.

The project has hit home for nearly a dozen students at the school who have family members serving in Afghanistan or Iraq.

"These are our brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles," said Ceila Rollins, Fisher's aunt. "Unless we're directly involved, we really just don't know and are unaware of what's needed."

Every night, she said her children pray for their cousin, as well as the other servicemen and women, and are excited to have a tangible way to help out.

"If you present kids with a need, they will rise to the occasion and want to be part of the group and help," Kirby said. Families interested in donating to the school's project, or who would like information on how to start their own, can call Susan Kirby, Ivy Hall's director at 356-1000.

Brooke Barker can be reached at 344-2559 or bbarker@heraldextra.com.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page C1.