WATERLOO - Iowa soldiers could once again get a springtime treat courtesy of Iowa's Bravest volunteers and community members.

The Iowa's Bravest committee is organizing a Girl Scout cookie drive that could mean an additional box of goodies for the Iowa men and women currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. This will be only the third time the committee tackled two rounds of boxes in just one year. The others came in May 2003 and shortly after the announcement that the soldiers with the Waterloo-headquartered Iowa Army National Guard 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry would have their deployment extended in the spring of 2007.

"I know our soldiers will really appreciate receiving Girl Scout cookies since they are such a specialty item that we only get to enjoy once a year," said Julie Ehlers, the group's co-organizer. "And with the selection of cookies that the Scouts have to offer, I am sure the soldiers can find something that they will like."

Ehlers is hoping the Girl Scouts and community will step up, ordering an extra box - or more if they like - of cookies when the Scouts come knocking at their door. Cookie orders are taken until Jan. 27. Deliveries are expected in late February, which means Ehlers would like to get the boxes shipped in April. Ehlers also is hoping to collect individual packages of cocoa, cider and cappuccino to package with the cookies.

"No donation is too small. It all adds up," Ehlers said.

Sarah Dierks, a seventh-grade world history teacher at Hoover Middle School, has rounded up at least seven Girl Scouts from her school to help with the project. In the past she sought the help of her students to write letters to be sent with the holiday boxes.

"The girls are going to go around themselves and try to get people to buy a box or two," Dierks said. "The Weight Watchers people have been really awesome. They've already said they will buy boxes for the troops even though they can't purchase for themselves."

Similar projects done through the Boy Scouts have netted more than 1,500 bags of microwave popcorn in three years, which is packaged in the holiday boxes.

"We received a note from one of our soldiers recently that said 'they were humbled' by the efforts of the Iowa's Bravest volunteers. We are the ones that should be humbled, and we are the ones that should be looking for more ways to help keep their morale up," Ehlers said. "This is the easy part. I can't even begin to imagine how difficult it is for the soldiers and their families. I wish we could do more."

For more information about how to donate contact Ehlers at 232-3795 or juliea58@mchsi.com. Information also is available online at www.iowasbravest.org.

Contact Emily Christensen at (319) 291-1570 or emily.christensen@wcfcourier.com.