For soldiers serving overseas it can get very hot in the summer sun, but an Elkhart group is helping cool them off by sending HUGS. They are basically cold packs that can be put around the neck.

Karen Stark, the national founder of the HUGS project, came up with the idea after seeing a similar product called “Chilly Willies” that golfers can use to reduce body heat. There is a chemical reaction when it is soaked in water; each crystal inside the HUG will absorb 400 times its weight in water and can last several days.

“I told my husband, this is something we can do to help the military,” Stark said.

Nationwide, the HUGS Project has sent about 800,000 HUGS to soldiers.

Nancy Mast with the HUGS Project of Elkhart says by the end of 2010 they will have made and sent about 10,000 HUGS to soldiers on their own, but there is still a big need for more.

“We just need workers,” Mast said. “There are all kinds of jobs, you don’t have to be able to sew, and there are all kinds of jobs to be done. We’d just like to see our group grow so that we can help more soldiers.”

Mast says they also could use monetary donations for shipping. There’s also a need for people who know how to crochet as they want to send Christmas ornaments to soldiers.

This weekend there will be a “Group HUG” event from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at River Oaks Community Church located at 58020 County Road 115 in Goshen. If you bring care package items they will pay the postage to send them. To find a list of needed items or to learn more about the HUGS Project, click on the Big Red Bar or email thehugsprojectofelkhart@yahoo.com.