Island County American Red Cross has shipped items ranging from lip balm to candy to military installations in Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait for distribution to U.S. armed forces.

The items were donated by local schools and businesses.

Chapter Manager Jean Hermanson said the new program, called Whidbey Express, began in mid-September. She said the community’s response was “immediate and outstanding.”

South Whidbey, Coupeville and Oak Harbor students immediately began gathering items during special drives at their schools.

Local motels donated toiletry items, and day care facilities, retirement homes and community organizations contributed a variety of items for military personnel overseas.

Hermanson said the program even received items from as far away as St. Brendan’s School in Bothell.

The donations will be delivered to Red Cross personnel in Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. They include toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, shaving cream and lip balm.

Also donated were games, puzzles, playing cards, videos, assorted greeting cards, hot chocolate, cider, popcorn and candy.

“All in all, 188 pounds of stuff has been sent,” Hermanson said.

The Whidbey Express program was coordinated by a chapter volunteer, Maria McGee, an intern from Western Washington University.

McGee worked with participating organizations and collected, sorted and shipped items from Pony Mailing Center in Oak Harbor.

Program expenses were paid by the Red Cross chapter and made possible by local contributions.

The chapter hopes to collect and send more items in the future, but is not soliciting or collecting items now.