Chicken Shack employees won't just be boxing up chicken over the holidays.

The famous chicken eatery is preparing stockings to send to U.S. military troops fighting the war against terrorism across seas.

"We're hoping to reach soldiers that don't have families and that don't get letters," employee Sherry Hudson said. "The area schools are going to make us some greeting cards and we're going to put them in the stockings. So they'll get a letter too."

Chicken Shack owner Henry Money supports his employees 100 percent.

"It's a great thing they are doing," he said. "I told them that we would support them in any way we can. They're all very conscientious to what's going on over there because we're so close to it with the people we have over there."

Hudson's 21-year-old son Jason Chandler is currently serving in Iraq with the 2101 Transportation Company out of Camden. She said she decided to start the holiday drive, not only because she misses her son, but also because she hears stories on a daily basis of others who have family across seas.

"When we hung our stocking up to start our drive, I immediately had a customer tell me about nine Marines that are in Iraq that never get mail or get a letter," Hudson said. "I know we can't reach 250,000 soldiers that are over there, but if everybody sends a little, maybe everybody will get something."

Hudson is requesting that citizens throughout Crenshaw County and surrounding areas that dine at Chicken Shack to drop off a stocking stuffer such as candy, toiletries, pre-filled stockings or empty stockings.

Cash donations are also being accepted to help purchase items for the stockings and cover shipping charges.

"We've had a great reaction from the community," Hudson said. "Our stocking has hung up for three days and we've already got $100. That's pretty good."

The Chicken Shack will box up the stockings and ship them using the United States Postal Service on Dec. 1.

"We have several employees that work at the Chicken Shack that have servicemen overseas," Hudson said.

If you would like to donate an item or give a monetary donation stop by the Chicken Shack located at 662 South Forest Ave in Luverne or call them at 335-6566.