Students in the Coupeville School District are heading to Thailand this summer to learn about the environment and culture of the country.

However, before the students go, they want to do their part in helping victims ravaged by last month’s tsunami. For the past week or so, they’ve put together kits that will be sent to countries affected by the disaster.

“We decided to give them stuff they might need,” said seventh grader Megan Smith as she helped assemble the kits.

Fellow student Maria Kidder said the victims will see immediate help when they receive the kit.

On Monday afternoon, students and volunteers assembled 63 kits and had about 40 partial kits. Each kit contains a blanket, hand towel, Band Aids, cotton balls, gauze, soap, toothbrush and toothpaste.

“This is just the first round. Some parents haven’t brought their stuff in,” said Terry Welch, a science and math teacher at Coupeville Middle School.

She said more people supported the collection than she originally anticipated and volunteers will be collecting items until the end of the month. People heard about the collection through friends and parents of students and they were more than willing to help.

To help, drop items off at various places throughout the island including Lind’s Pharmacies in Langley, Freeland and Coupeville, Albertson’s and Windemere in Oak Harbor.

Welch said volunteers will assemble the kits once a week until February.

The kits will be given to World Concern, a Christian humanitarian organization.

While the students assemble the kits, they are also preparing to go to Thailand this summer. Among the activities Welch has planned for the students is a visit to an elephant sanctuary.