Southland Middle School students collected many basic-need items to to help veterans last week.

About 90 Southland students had about six days to collect items for homeless veterans, which they donated through the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans. On Friday, the sixth- through eighth-graders met with Michael McLaughlin, the outreach manager for the Minnesota Assistance Counsel for Veterans based out of Mankato.

McLaughlin collected the items from the students and gave a short program about Minnesota veterans who struggle to get back on their feet. Teacher Lynn Wempner said the project — which was put on through the student council — came to her after a friend did something similar at Hormel Foods Corp.

“I’m always looking for service projects for the kids,” Wempner said.

The Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans — which helped over 1,800 Minnesota veterans last year — had a wish list the students worked from, and they collected items such as toothbrushes, towels, umbrellas, t-shirts, socks and more.

“We kind of got a little bit of everything from the kids that was on the list,” Wempner said.

The students collected over 300 items to donate in the six days.

“The kids did fantastic,” Wempner said.

The fundraiser became a friendly competition between the homerooms, looking to find out who could bring in the most items. Wempner said it was a fairly close competition, with each group collecting many items.

Wempner hoped the students made connections between the items they collected and the real people who will receive the items.

“Just connecting what our small town did for somebody who might live in a bigger town,” Wempner said.

“I think they learned that even their little bit of help donating can really do good for the greater cause,” she added. “That they can help somebody who served our country.”

Other drives the students have done include a penny war, Toys for Tots, fundraising for the Humane Society, different food drives, the winter clothing drive and making chemo kits.

“They go above and beyond every time we ask,” Wempner said. “It’s just learning that there are other people out there that need help and they can make a difference.”

The Southland students collected many items in their project to help homeless veterans.

•4 cans of coffee plus many single serves

•2 umbrellas

•5 rain ponchos

•5 DVDs

•10 stamps

•3 backpacks/bags

•5 sleeping bags

•140 toothbrushes

•65 combs

•34 bottles of shampoo

•34 deodorants

•58 bars of soap

•20 cans of shaving cream

•2249 disposable razors

•102 toothpastes

•190 small Kleenex packages

•8 bed pillows

•14 blankets

•3 twin sheet sets

•15 bath towels

•10 hand towels

•1 battery powered alarm clock

•48 pairs of men’s socks

•19 men’s white tshirts

•9 winter hats

•1 $15 Walmart giftcard

•2 $10 Walmart giftcards

•1 $10 Hyvee giftcard

•2 $10 Kwik Trip giftcards

•$84 cash