Penn State student Mike Thompson said he remembers the impact of receiving hand-drawn pictures from a class of fourth-graders while he was in the service.

"It really means a lot to people to get a piece of mail, even from someone you've never met before," he said. "They were the only colorful thing we had."

Thompson said his personal experience in the military was one of the reasons he decided to organize a military-related service project for an English 30 (Honors Freshman Composition) service assignment.

Thompson, who is also vice president of Penn State Veteran's Organization (PSUVO), and his group members held Operation Appreciation from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. yesterday on the ground floor of the HUB-Robeson Center.

Students were asked to create encouraging cards to send to soldiers. PSUVO members also collected donations for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund -- a charity that provides support for disabled military personnel.

One member of the English 30 group, Jen Koffs (freshman-division of undergraduate studies) said she thought Operation Appreciation would "show how powerful words can be."

The group's motivation for organizing the event was to thank soldiers and to show them they care, she said.

Jacob Heft (freshman-division of undergraduate studies), another group member, said he was attracted to the project because it seemed meaningful.

"This is an unusual project that could actually help people," he said. "It seemed like it would matter."

Heft also said making a card is a worthy service activity for any student.

"You personally will create something that someone out there doing good things will see," he said.

Aaron Gottshall, PSUVO president, who took part in the initiative, said he celebrated his 21st birthday when he was in the service. He said his parents arranged to have more than 200 cards mailed to him in Baghdad.

"Knowing people are thinking about you shortens the distance to home," he said.

Though many students who passed the Operation Appreciation table said they were in a rush and didn't have time to stop, other students such as Nathan Horick (junior-sports journalism) paused for a few minutes in order to make a card and donate some money.

Horick said he has an injured friend who just came home from the war, and he hopes that these cards will "make someone's day."

Mary Wood (freshman-French and international studies) also took the time to make a card.

"It really, really makes a difference to soldiers," she said. "People who never even met you care and want to make sure you're OK."

This was the second time Operation Appreciation was held. Thompson and his group previously administered a card-making and donation table in the HUB before spring break. The group plans to reserve a table one final time, later this semester.

Gottshall said he wanted to remind students that Operation Appreciation is an effort that aims solely to support the troops -- "a politically unmotivated event."

Thompson agreed.

"You don't need to be for or against the war to provide morale and support to the men and women who are fighting over seas," Thompson said. "These are human beings who are doing a service."