Every boot on the ground, in the air and on the sea has a soldier, marine, airman and sailor attached.

St. John's Church recently stepped to the plate and donated 83 boxes of hard-to-get items to these military personnel.

The parishioners show great generosity, said Dave Day, church sexton.

"When they call for something like this, they come out in force," he said.

The call to donate to Operation Troop Support came through the church bulletin and religious classes, said Maureen McDonnell, director of religious education at St. John's.

For three weeks parishioners donated bags of items.

High school students in religious education classes hauled the bags to the basement at Colman Hall, sorted the items and placed them in boxes.

They included snacks, toiletries, popcorn, cards, games, batteries and socks.Lots of socks, said Deacon Andy Acampora, between trips hauling the boxes to a pickup truck.

"The big thing they wanted this time was socks, so we have tons of socks," he said.

Foot powder, too.

VFW Post 1240 Commander John Sacherski said socks and foot powder are greatly appreciated by troops.

He has heard this from numerous military people after returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

A change of socks, especially white ones in hot places, keep feet dry and healthy, he said.

Powder is important for foot hygiene, as well, he said.

The deacon and sexton loaded the care boxes into beds of two pickups.

Maureen said the church knows the sacrifices that military people and their families make are enormous.

The church has lost two parishioners in recent years, she said.

Also, a man who served three tours in Afghanistan spoke to middle school students at the church about his military experiences.

Deacon Andy said the donations help people stop and focus in a small way on the soldiers by bringing them some happiness.

"We're very fortunate to have all we have," he said. "All we have and all we will have is because of the sacrifices of soldiers."