Volunteers lined up DVDs -- carefully arranged on edge -- just so. If done right, that left a tight crevice for oversized Tootsie Rolls -- inserted lengthwise -- and created a nice flat platform for a Frisbee. Decks of playing cards and John Deere caps also had carefully defined spots in each cardboard box.

Volunteers with the Iowa's Bravest organization pulled off their latest good deed Wednesday evening. The most visible part of the process -- assembling gift packages like identical jigsaw puzzles at the United Auto Workers hall -- took less than two hours to complete.

"I've never seen people pack a box perfect like this," said Craig Goetsch, customer service supervisor at the Waterloo Post Office.

John Deere employees in Waterloo established the nonprofit organization, and in the past five years they and their assistants have honed the assembly line technique to a fine point.

Anyone ever involved in a group effort of any magnitude, though, should suspect volunteers spent many days and weeks organizing the final assault.

Numbers testify to the amount of work that went into this year's shipment and to past efforts:

-- Air Force ROTC cadets at West High School raised about $1,500 in cash and collected more than $1,800 in goods from customers at Crossroads Hy-Vee.

-- Members of AMVETS in Evansdale generated $1,290 by holding a bake sale in August.

-- 19 tons of goods have gone overseas in the past five years, shipped in 2,000 packages.

Those not familiar with Iowa's Bravest should also note the organization's growth. In 2003, the packing project attracted 60 volunteers who stuffed 140 boxes with goodies. This year, several hundred helpers from Waterloo, Cedar Falls and surrounding communities arranged donations in 320 packages.

The facts and figures are impressive, but less tangible commodities -- pride and thanksgiving -- are what make the goodwill gesture so commendable.

Many in the room Wednesday evening claimed a direct connection to the war on terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan. One mother wore a photo of her son on a necklace. A grandmother across the way had a Navy sweatshirt.

Plenty of other people, though, just wanted to help, just wanted to show their gratitude to military men and women they do not know and will likely never meet.

"It's hard to believe after five years you keep coming back," said Julie Ehlers, one of the annual event's lead organizers. "Thanks a lot for your commitment and your support of our soldiers."

If you missed this chance to help, don't worry. Other opportunities remain. The organization has a Web site at www.iowasbravest.org with contact information on how to get involved. That could range from making a donation, to buying Iowa's Bravest merchandise to marshaling some community effort of your own and collecting specific goods. Pick one and lend a hand.

The organization displays a quote from the late Margaret Mead on its Web site.

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

Well said. And to those who helped Wednesday and in years past, well done.