-CLINTON — The idea, says emergency communications dispatcher Ellen Vece, is to do something so that friends in faraway and dangerous places will know they’re not forgotten.

The particular friend for Vece is police Officer Glenn Smith, an Army reservist who has been on active duty in Iraq since October and is serving with a military police unit made up of Connecticut soldiers.

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To help Smith and his platoon-mates, and so they will understand folks at home have them in their thoughts, Vece is organizing a "care package" campaign to send them a box of useful items once a month.

A Branford resident who joined the Clinton police force in 2004, Smith, 37, is a 1987 graduate of Branford High School who first joined the Plainfield Police Department after completing his service with the Air Force as a military police officer.

Smith, married and the father of two small children, subsequently enlisted in the Army Reserve, again with a military police unit, and spent three weeks on active duty in Louisiana last year in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Summoned to active duty again this summer with the 144th Military Police Company, Smith spent two months in training and left for the Mideast in late October. Vece says he is now "somewhere in Iraq."

"I thought about Glenn being there and decided it would be nice to do something for him and the platoon," Vece explained. "We want him to know we haven’t forgotten him."

Using a suggested list available at troopcarepackage.com, Vece is collecting much-needed items for Smith and the 33 men and three women in his platoon and also is soliciting donations for postage.

Items such as Clorox wipes, deodorant, ChapStick or lip balm, soap and eyedrops are particularly useful for troops in Iraq, she says. And single-serving food items, from instant coffee to soup and cereal, also are welcome.

But No. 1 on Vece’s list is "tube socks. ... They’re a big thing because they can’t wash their socks. They get so dirty they have to throw them out," she said.

Unilever already has been generous in donating to the effort, say Vece and Police Chief Joseph Faughnan. Vece also is applying to a grant program Wal-Mart has available to assist such efforts.

"We want to send him a package a month" over the rest of Smith’s 18-month tour of duty, Vece said.

Faughnan said of her idea, "It’s a wonderful thing she’s doing. She has a very generous heart."

Items may be brought to the police station on East Main Street and donations may be addressed to the Clinton Police Benevolent Association. Vece can be reached at the department at (860) 669-0451.