A Merrill native stationed in Afghanistan is helping that country's poor while serving his own country.

And now Senior Chief Petty Officer Michael Jaeger hopes that his community back home can also lend a hand.

"The day before his 18th birthday he went into the Navy. He celebrated his 40th birthday in Afghanistan," says Constance Jaeger, Michael Jaeger's Mother.

For nearly 9 months, Senior Chief Petty Officer Michael Jaeger has been stationed in Kabul, Afghanistan.

But Jaeger is doing more than what he signed up for.

"He's helping the chaplains over there with a program they call the 'VCR' program," says Constance.

The Volunteer Community Relations Program works with Afghans in refugee camps.

Jaeger finds out what needs the refugees have and what can be done about it.

"They escaped from Southern Afghanistan and they went up to Kabul, which is a great temperature difference and it's starting to get into Winter up there and they have nothing," says Constance.

In a recent letter he sent to family and friends, Jaeger asks his former community members to give what they can.

Blankets, coats, mittens, hats, and anything to stay warm.

"He's worried that the kids will freeze to death, because they have weather like us here in Wisconsin," says Constance.

His mother Connie, is proud of her son for being in the Navy, and for helping the poor.

He even volunteers teaching children English in a refugee school

In his letter, Jaeger writes, "The only way to end this fight in through the children, to show them the care and love we would for our own families," says Constance.

Blankets, school supplies, and warm clothes are being collected at St. Vincent De Paul Thrift Shop in Merrill.

Monetary donations, which will be used to ship the goods overseas, are being taken at Associated Banks.

If you'd like to send something for the troops themselves, they're also collecting DVDs, magazines, and other goods.