DES MOINES, Iowa — As yet another Iowa soldier deployment looms, the Blue Star Mothers are gathering cards and donations to send to the soldiers overseas.

Blue Star Mothers is a non-profit established during World War II that supports mothers with children deployed in the U.S. Military. The organization advocates for families, raises funds for soldiers and their loved ones, and provides a support system.

The Blue Star Mothers have manned a table at the Iowa State Fair since opening day, hoping to gather holiday cards and funds to send 2,700 care packages to Iowa’s deployed soldiers in November.

Over the past week, Blue Star Mothers spokesperson April Conway says families and soldiers have shared their stories and put thought into their letters.

“We had a sister say, ‘Hey, if you happen to run into my brother tell him his little sister misses him’, because it’s really hard on us when our children and our families are gone. And just by chance, if that letter makes it there near her brother, that’s all she wanted,” said Conway.

“A few times where some were like, Well, what do I write? And one of them I knew was a veteran. So, I just want you to write what you would have wanted to have gotten, the words you would have loved or needed to read had it been you and he wrote a really long letter.”

With two days left of the fair, the mothers have raised $7,000 of their $10,000 goal and collected half the number of holiday cards needed for the packages.

“We want to get as many encouraging thoughts from Iowans as possible. And we are about 2,000 cards shy of our goal to be able to have two in each box,” said Conway. “We are really hoping that the next two days of the fair ends really well for us. You are more than welcome to come in, cool off, write a letter, talk to our moms, learn more about our program.”

The mothers are also gearing up for another event. This year, Iowa had its largest deployment in 15 years, and on Saturday, another 250 Iowans will leave for a mission in the Middle East.

“Our only mission tomorrow is to be there to comfort the families and the parents as they see their children off,” said Conway. “We’re simply there to give a hug because tomorrow is the day they’re going to need it.”

The sendoff will take place Saturday at 10 a.m. at Valley Stadium. The event will be livestreamed. visit the 103rd Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) Facebook page to learn more.

The Iowa Blue Star Mothers will continue their care package efforts at their 5th Annual Car Show. Learn more about the program and car show on the Blue Star Mothers of Iowa website.