VIDALIA — Being a soldier in the U.S. military can sometimes be a thankless job.

Months spent overseas, away from family and friends working to protect America’s freedom fill up a soldier’s time, leaving things like celebrating Christmas on the back burner.

For all the sacrifices our soldiers make, Vidalia resident Pattie Morris decided there were a few things she could do to help them out.

“I started a program called Operation G.R.I.T.S.,” she said. “We are filling boxes with suggested items and sending them overseas to our troops.”

Morris said G.R.I.T.S. stands for gifts raised in the south, and is her way of bringing Christmas cheer to soldiers who won’t be with their families this Christmas.

“The holidays can be a depressing time for soldiers,” she said. “They should know we have not forgotten about them and are celebrating with them.”

Morris said items being sent through Operation G.R.I.T.S. include things like snacks, toiletries, socks, T-shirts, games, books and condiments.

“They are all being sent to soldiers stationed at Camp Victory in Baghdad,” she said.

Monetary donations are even being accepted to buy phone cards for the soldiers, she said.

Morris said former Vidalia High School graduate Sgt. Major Wilburn Ferguson is distributing the packages among the troops in Iraq.

“He will be posting pictures on Facebook of soldiers getting their boxes,” she said. “Anyone who wants to see them should look for him on Facebook.”

While the first large shipment of more than 200 boxes shipped out Thursday, Morris said she will continue to ship boxes as she receives them.

“Even if it is the day before Christmas, I will do my best to ship the box out to the troops,” she said. “We have boxes coming in from all over the area.”

Morris said while the program started in Vidalia this year, it has already grown to surrounding regions.

“Hattiesburg has set up a program there, and a man from Monroe has talked with me about starting one next year,” she said. “We even have a girl in Alexandria who is collecting boxes for us.”

Morris said she started the organization because she knew Miss-Lou residents would show support for their troops.

“I know people here are extremely patriotic and generous,” she said.

Morris said boxes can be dropped off at Reed Insurance or the Vidalia Chamber of Commerce.

Anyone who would like more information on how to donate money or a box to the soldiers can contact Morris at 601-807-6470 or the Vidalia Chamber of Commerce at 318-336-8223.