LELAND, N.C. -- It's the season of giving and some carolers helped others get into the spirit Thursday in front of Antonio's Pizza and Pasta in Leland.

The concert was just part of the effort from Step Up for Soldiers to collect donations for troops serving overseas.

"Donating is good for everyone, because one you donate you feel good," said Tom Russell, the director for Step Up for Soldiers. "The soldier feels good once he writes home and tells his parents or his loved ones that he has received another gift."

The local nonprofit will send the donations to soldiers serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. Donors said they want to help the troops ring in the New Year with care packages from home.

"It's just our little way of giving something back to them, because they don't know how much we appreciate them," Lisa Thaden, a Leland resident, said. "So I think this is just a small way to show them how much we do appreciate."

Choir members from Roger Bacon Academy hoped their carols would inspire the community to give back.

"I hope we speak out to the people that listen to this. I hope we touch somebody out there. That's really what we do this for," said Sam Hatch, a student at Roger Bacon Academy.

Step Up for Soldiers collected enough donations to send about 250 packages.

"I wanted to do something, just give a small donation while I was on my way to work, to help the troops out and all," Leland resident Brian Grieashamer said. "You know, I'm just a blue-collar worker and I can't imagine what they do over there. It's very brave of them."

Over the past three years, Step Up for Soldiers has sent about 1,500 packages to the troops.

The organization is encouraging the community to donate non-perishables, hygiene items or even a card.