METHUEN - James Seregio-Wareing sat in his chair, looking intently at his hands, radio blaring, waiting for something he still couldn't believe would happen.

President George W. Bush's voice filled the living room as he began his weekly 10 a.m. radio address, and within a minute his words brought a smile to Wareing's face.

"One man who's making a difference this holiday season is Jim Wareing."

He shook his head in disbelief as Bush spent most of his six-minute speech talking about his gift drive for the troops.

As the president finished with, "Citizens like Jim Wareing represent the true strength of our country, and they make America proud," Wareing's three telephones began ringing in unison.

"I am impressed," he said after taking some calls. "How can you not be? Yesterday, when I found out, I was overwhelmed. I couldn't speak."

Wareing, 47, of 139 Howe St., founded two-year-old New England Caring for Our Military, a Methuen-based organization that works with school children, seniors and the disabled to send care packages for the troops.

He had students from 20 schools in Massachusetts and New Hampshire collecting more than 20,000 gifts - things like shirts, cologne and board games - and 7,000 home-made cards this holiday season.

He sends the packages to anyone in the military who asks, no matter where they are from or where they are stationed, only requesting they send any thank you notes to the schools.

"They do everything," he said. "I'm just the guy with the ideas."

As he got over the initial shock yesterday, Wareing worried about dispensing the president's message to the more than 6,000 students who participated, all of whom are on holiday vacation.

"Even though he mentioned my name, I think he was really impressed by what the students did," Wareing said. "I think that's what makes us unique. ... You just can't mention every student's name unfortunately. I give so much credit to them."

A relative taped the speech for him, and he plans to deliver copies to every school, so students might hear the message played over the intercom.

He almost missed the address himself.

White House staff called Wareing last week to ask questions about his organization and request his social security number and date of birth.

He had visited the Pentagon a week before, for an annual summit of America Cares, which connects troops with organizations like Wareing's. He met former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and a reporter for the military armed services network interviewed him, resulting in an article he thinks probably caught Bush's attention.

The staffers said the president might use him in a speech, but failed to mention when it might happen, and Wareing only found out Friday night when a reporter called for his reaction.

"He asked me how it felt to be mentioned so much in the speech, and I said, 'What do you mean?'" he said. "He asked how I couldn't have known. ... he had an advanced copy of the speech. I didn't even know what channel to turn on this morning."

Wareing's heightened patriotism was born on a visit to the site of the World Trade Center shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. He came back to the Merrimack Valley and started decorating bridges in honor of local troops.

Two years later, doctors diagnosed him with multiple sclerosis and he quit his job as customer service manager at Malden Mills the following May.

Once Wareing learned to deal with his illness, he soon grew bored with staying at home, and decided to start the package drives in fall 2004.

He's since shipped 16,200 packages at an estimated value of $237,900.

"Now, as the war drags on, it is even more important to support the troops," he said. "If you disagree with the war, that's what voting is for. But always support the troops."

"It was ironic to have the president speak about me," he said. "I've been a Democrat all my life."

If anything, the president's mention could help with securing some awareness and extra money- possibly by corporate sponsors - which is something Wareing will need with the plans he has for NECFOM.

He envisions larger drives, more teaching experiences, and even military speakers in Valley classrooms.

"You should have science, math, English and patriotism," he said. "It should be a staple at schools. I'm trying to bring back respect. It's working."

Excerpt of President George W. Bush's Radio Address:

"... One man who's making a difference this holiday season is Jim Wareing. Jim is the founder of New England Caring for Our Military. This year, Jim helped organize a gift drive by thousands of students from Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Students from kindergarten to high school collected more than 20,000 gifts for our troops abroad. The gifts are being sent to troops stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Korea, Japan and Africa. The care packages include books and puzzles, board games, phone cards, fresh socks, and T-shirts, and about 7,000 handmade holiday greeting cards and posters. Jim says, quote "It's probably always hard for troops to be far away from home, but especially hard on the holidays. I use this as an opportunity to try to pay them back for my freedom."

Citizens like Jim Wareing represent the true strength of our country, and they make America proud. I urge every American to find some way to thank our military this Christmas season. If you see a soldier, sailor, airman, Marine, or a member of the Coast Guard, take a moment to stop and say, "Thanks for your service." And if you want to reach out to our troops, or help out the military family down the street, the Department of Defense has set up a Web site to help. It is: AmericaSupportsYou.Mil. This Web site lists more than 150 compassionate organizations that can use your help. In this season of giving, let us stand with the men and women who stand up for America ..."

To give

Donations can be mailed to:

New England Caring For Our Military Inc.

P.O. Box 2311

Methuen, MA 01844

Names and addresses of deployed troops can be submitted via the NECFOM Web site at www.necfom.org