Earlier this year News Channel 7s Kristen Berset spent two weeks with the National Guard in Iraq, hosting the first official Operation Catch Fish Tournament.

She is getting ready to head back at the end of the year and is asking you to help by donating gifts for the troops. She got a big donation from a local organization.

As part of an Armed Forces Entertainment Tour through Iraq, my group and I visit with hundreds of servicemen and women serving throughout the country, and we like to bring them gifts from home.

Last month I began asking the community for donations and the response has been overwhelming.

Tom Putnum with Half Hitch Tackle said, "You’re always hoping people are as good as you think they are and I think something like this reassures you people really are truly good people and ready to help their fellow man.”

Tom Putnum, owner of Half Hitch Tackle, is once again helping me collect donations and has matched every purchase from his store.

It's not too late to donate, like hundreds of people already have. We have shaving cream, sunscreen, and some people have even donated some hats, anything to remind these troops of home.

"We all have our freedoms and our military service defends them all over the world, and because we have those liberties we forget about how important and how some places don't have it, and for us to continue to have them, we have to support those who defend it."

Wednesday we got a big boost from the American Legion Auxiliary in Lynn Haven. President Linda King and Community Service Chairwoman Jean Geis presented us with a check for $250 that the group raised through 50/50 raffles at dinner.

Jean Geis shared, "I guess you could call it a soft heart because we are all for the service people. When I heard about it on TV I brought it to the attention of the members of the auxiliary, and we are all for it because some of us have family over there serving, so that's why we chose to do it for the guys and the girls."

"It caught me off guard too, but it goes back to being good people, good people do good things, and this is just another example of it."

If you would like to donate items, the deadline is November 10. For more information on desired items and drop-off locations, click on Operation Catch Fish on the right-hand side of the Home page.