WATERLOO -- A program to send gift packages to local troops in Iraq and Afghanistan has received a big shot in the arm from a national program started by two Massachusetts teens.

The Iowa's Bravest project is receiving 500 calling cards from Cell Phones for Soldiers, a program started by Norwell, Mass., teen Brittany Bergquist and her younger brother, Robbie, in 2004.

Iowa's Bravest organizer Julie Ehlers found out about the program via the Internet. She requested 375 calling cards for gift boxes to be packaged and sent Nov. 11. The Bergquists sent 500.

"They are worth over $3,000. This is one of our biggest donations yet," said Brittany Bergquist, 14, a ninth-grader. "I was glad to hear from her and we are happy that she will be including our cards in her packages."

Bergquist and her brother have received national publicity from NBC Nightly News, Fox News and various youth magazines since starting the program in August 2004 after they heard about a soldier in Iraq who ran up a $7,000-plus cell phone bill. They raided their piggy banks to help the soldier with the bill, raised money from friends at school and opened up a bank account for $21. The bank gave them $500. They have raised money for and distributed thousands of calling cards with the assistance of private donations and cash from the recycling of used cell phones from drop-off sites around the country.

"We actually have not done any publicity ourselves," Brittany said, though they now have an Internet site, www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com. "We pretty much waited for all the news stations to come to us. It's really by word of mouth. When people hear about the project, they tell their friends."

The project operated solely on private cash donations, Brittany said, until two cell phone recycling companies told them they could raise money from people giving them replaced cell phones. When the youths turn them in to recycling companies, they can generate anywhere from $1 to $160 per phone.

The Bergquists' long-term goal is to raise money for video phones, so troops can see their loved ones when they call. They want to buy 8,000 satellite phones, roughly one for every 20 troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. "We've sent about 12 video phones out to a few different bases across the country," Brittany said.

"This is a huge contribution to our project," Ehlers said. "We have been blessed by two very remarkable young people. I can't believe our luck. Our Iowa's Bravest soldiers are receiving a very nice gift.

"It's wonderful to see what our young folks can do when they set their minds to it. They sure set some good examples for all of us adults to follow. Every soldier that receives a card with our holiday package will know where this special gift came from," Ehlers said. "I will make sure a note is attached so that they can thank these two fine young people firsthand."

Iowa's Bravest continues to collect donations of cash and non-perishable goods for holiday gift packages to be sent to local troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Interested donors may contact Ehlers at Iowa's Bravest, P.O. Box 270, Waterloo, 50704; by phone at (319) 232-3795; or e-mail at juliea58@mchsi.com.

Boxes will be will be filled and mailed Nov. 10 at United Auto Workers Local 838, 2615 Washington St. Hundreds of volunteers will be needed, and the public, including families, youth and church groups are invited to help.

Contact Pat Kinney at (319) 291-1484 or Pat.Kinney@wcfcourier.com.