SHALIMAR, Fla. -- (AP) -- When 12-year-old Allie Maney started Operation Schoolhouse, a project to collect school supplies for Iraqi children, she had no idea how large the response would be.

Since its start in October, Allie's project has more than doubled her goal of 1,000 pounds of supplies.

``I'm really excited about it. We got 2,200 pounds,'' the Shalimar resident said. ``It's just great that we got this much and I loved doing it.''

Ally started the program after hearing stories and seeing photos from her brother, Army 1st Lt. Drew Maney. In one of his weekly conversations with his family, Drew mentioned the Iraqi children he met on his tour with the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team.

Within months, donations to the project filled the Maney home and donated space at A&A Transfer. Operation Schoolhouse collected everything from paper to uniforms. There even were hand-sewn book bags filled with supplies.

``In light of economic hard times, people still were so extremely generous with their time and money and they just went out of their way to give and we really were appreciative,'' said Allie's mother, Cindy.

LOGISTICAL ISSUES

The Maney family fueled the project, helping Allie pick up donations, taking her to speaking engagements and storing the school supplies. They say individual school donations no longer will be collected.

``It has been a real logistic burden for us,'' said Allie's father, Ed. ``It's just sapped our strength.''

Logistics really became an issue in December, when the Maneys first tried to ship the donations. They were told they would need a letter from Iraqi customs saying there would be no duties on the shipment. That letter then would have to be translated into English.

``That was just one of their simple requirements,'' Ed said. The family also had to weigh, photograph and inventory the supplies before shipping them.

``It was really hard because at first we didn't get a hold of them but we worked that all out,'' Allie said.

Cindy Maney said the project was worth all the red tape and legwork. ``It was so exciting to see that crate full,'' she said.

SELF ESTEEM

Ed noticed the confidence his daughter gained from seeing her dream come to fruition. He said Allie has followed her convictions from one project to the next since she was in second grade.

``She really has a grasp of political awareness far beyond her years. She knows what she wants to do, when she wants to do it and how she wants to do it,'' Ed said. ``She's just a really compassionate little girl.''

Before the family could work out the logistics, a large out-of-state donation was made. Balfour, a company that specializes in class rings and mementos, donated a tractor of clothes and supplies after hearing an appeal from Allie on the radio. The company might continue to donate to Operation Schoolhouse every year.

The Denton Foundation came to the rescue, arranging a free flight to Iraq where Drew and his troop will pick up and distribute the goods. The Balfour supplies will follow with a shipment arranged by the foundation from its Kentucky warehouse.

``Drew's going to take pictures, and I can't wait to see them,'' Allie said.

In the meantime, Allie will have some more school supplies to collect -- her own.

``Allie and I have been joking we don't even want to look at school supplies right now,'' Cindy said.

Information from: Northwest Florida Daily News, http://www.nwfdailynews.com

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