CUMMING -- A local group is collecting donations for care packages to be sent to deployed soldiers overseas.

Treat the Troops Southern Style will hold its latest packing of snacks, treats and other goodies for deployed soldiers at 7 p.m. on Thursday at the VFW Post 9143 at 1045 Dahlonega Highway.

“I just want to best our month from the year before,” said Linda Jones, organizer. “Last year, in 2015, for September, we shipped 262 large, flat-rate boxes … [this year] we may do a good 300.”

The group holds five packings per year and is notable for sending homemade cookies — a favorite of the soldiers.

Jones said the group is stocked for packers on Thursday but still needs some items, including those for the four-legged troops.

“The homemade cookies are what we concentrate on, but we also send what we call ‘filler items,’ such as the cereal bars, the jerky. The flavored drink mixes are hugely popular,” she said. “We are still sending to our K-9s; we have right now eight boxes that are dedicated to our K-9s.”

Along with the goodies, Jones also sends letters of thanks and encouragement to soldiers.

“We’re always looking for notes to put in our boxes,” she said. “I want those soldiers to open that box and smell those homemade cookies and see a stack of thank you notes.”

The group always accepts monetary donation to help pay for shipping, which is about $17 per box. If the group meets the 300 boxes Jones is aiming for, that means shipping will cost more than $5,000.

Jones said students, faculty and the community at Whitlow Elementary School have helped by writing notes and donating a large amount of candy, which Jones unpacked on Tuesday.

“It’s just amazing what the teachers and students have done for us for Treat the Troops in the last year,” she said. “Six or seven, maybe eight, of the strapping young men up there hauled out just shy of 20,000 pieces of candy.”

The group will have the year’s final packing event on Nov. 17.