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BLOOMFIELD, IA -- Thanks to local Iowans, soldiers serving during the holidays have a little reminder of home.

So far more than 100 Christmas trees have been donated from 27 farms in Iowa.  The effort is part of the “Trees for Troops” operation across America.

Nationwide the “Trees for Troops” drive is expected to deliver between 17,000 and 20,000 trees.

Anita Shockley donates trees from her farm in Iowa says the program is relatively new.

“About four of five years ago a national organization started kind of a pilot program of sending trees to the troops in Afghanistan and Iraq and different military bases in the states,” said Shockley.  “So the Iowa Christmas Tree Growers Association picked that up and participated.”

For soldiers who are serving overseas, this is one way to make the base feel like home.

“I think mostly they really appreciate having that just part of home.  A tree that came from the United States means something really special to the people in Iraq.  It's just one more little connection.”

To learn more about “Trees for Troops” you can visit the website here.