AmeriCorps volunteers like Whitney Pesek packed everything from pencils to paper and crayons to help military kids communicate with their loved ones fighting overseas.

"We spend a lot of time thanking members of the military, but we don't think of their families at home -- especially kids who are going on without a mom or dad," Pesek said.

Army Major Robert Prout said the hardest part about being deployed is spending time away from his little boy.

"For Operation Iraqi Freedom, I was gone for 18 months, and I had a small child less than one year old. The time I was away he grew up," Prout said.

But Prout said this program will help kids stay in touch with their parents.

"That's the biggest thing, making sure our little heroes are taken care of and that bonds are still there," Prout said.

The volunteers and other members of the military say that the day of service and honoring 9/11 go hand in hand.

"We're thinking of our service members abroad keep us safe so that things like September 11 don't happen again. And the reason why these kid's parents are away is to keep us safe," Pesek said.

Tim Kelly with the North Carolina Commission of Volunteerism and Community Service agrees.

"It's a day to remember, but also it's looking forward and giving more of ourselves to those in need," Kelly said.

The volunteers brought more than 100 bags to the National Guard armory in Raleigh that will be delivered to families in the next couple of weeks.

AmeriCorps groups all over the state were participating in the Little Heroes project.