Some 75 students at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College have come together to say “thank you” to the U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

The Adult Re-Entry Club sponsored the event and club member Christy Worley said they came up with the idea shortly before Christmas.

Worley said the group planned to send care packages to soldiers in Afghan-istan, but then a local tie presented itself — Mitch Embry, who is the son of LBWCC’s developmental English lab facilitator Cathy Embry.

Mitch Embry is currently deployed in Afghanistan.

“It’s for him and the troops around him,” Worley said. “We’ll let him pass them out. We were glad to find a hometown connection.”

“‘Saints for Soldiers’ is what we decided to call it,” said ARC faculty adviser Fran Davidson. “We decided to have a movie night since a lot of our students, especially athletes, are from out of town and do not have a chance to go to the movies.”

Davidson said they asked those who attended the event to bring a personal item.

“We’ve collected a lot of personal items,” Worley said.

“We had a tremendous response from the athletes,” Davidson said. “The baseball and softball teams supported us 100 percent and the majority of the basketball team did, too.”

Students also donated T-shirts and sweatshirts and the college is sending some LBWCC shirts.

Worley said the care packages provide a special “touch” from a long way away.

“It really adds a personal touch,” Worley said. “I’m really impressed with the students for their contributions. This is something outstanding for us to send to the troops. It’s really touching what they have done. I hope we’re able to do this again in the future.”