HAVERHILL - A soldier deployed to the Middle East will soon open a gift not at all suited for the desert - an arctic bird.

Emily Anderson, a 12-year-old Consentino Middle School seventh-grader, used her own money to buy a "Happy Feet" stuffed penguin, which she added to a stack of about 400 Christmas gifts students are sending to soldiers at war.

"It's just a nice animal to have around," Emily said of why she chose a penguin.

Consentino is one of 22 area schools - including those in Methuen, Andover, Lawrence and Salem, N.H. - that are collecting Christmas gifts for deployed soldiers. The effort is done through New England Caring For Our Military, a Methuen-based nonprofit group that sends care packages to military personnel.

The gift drive has collected more than 10,000 gifts and cards.

Seventh-grader Marjorie Vaccaro, 13, bought deodorant, shampoo, hair elastics and other gifts for female soldiers.

Marjorie was one of several Consentino students who wrapped the gifts at school this week with teacher Cathy Jackson.

"I felt really bad because they won't be home with their families for Christmas," Marjorie said of why she participated. "I wanted to do something a little extra."

The care package organization is run by James Sereigo-Wareing of Methuen, who maintains an extensive list of local soldiers who are deployed in the military.

He said he has shipped 4,100 care packages with $137,870 worth of donated products since New England Caring For Our Military was created two years ago. About 8,000 volunteers have participated. More information is available at www.necfom.org.

Among them is Migdalia Guadalupe, 12, a seventh-grader at Consentino. She donated a dart board, a Chinese-style fan and a bouncing ball. She said the fan may be of good use in the desert.

"It's just really hot over there," she said.

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These local schools are sending gifts to soldiers

Haverhill

Consentino Middle

Bradford Elementary

Lawrence

Wetherbee

Methuen

Tenney and Timony grammar schools

Salisbury

Triton High School

Salem, N.H.

Lancaster Memorial Elementary

Haigh Elementary

Barron School

Woodbury School