Ramen noodles, plentiful in New York City, are a scarce commodity in Fallujah.

But a battalion of American marines stationed in Iraq will have a full supply of the tasty noodles this holiday season. They’ll also have necessities such as Qtips, cotton socks, sunblock, foot powder, coffee, and baby wipes, all thanks to the principal, teachers, and students at P.S./ I.S. 278 in Inwood.

“Ramen noodles were very popular. They came in by the caseload,” the principal of the school in Upper Manhattan, Maureen Guido, said yesterday. She also said that the neighborhood around the school is not an affluent one, making the outpouring of gifts for the troops all the more impressive.

P.S./I.S. 278, which opened in September, started gathering supplies because of a personal tie Ms. Guido had to the American forces: Her friend’s son, Christopher Meyers, leads a Marine tank battalion stationed in Fallujah. Ms. Guido said she’s known Captain Meyers, 32, since he was 4 and she wanted to do something to support him. Through his mother, Mr. Meyers said he didn’t need anything in particular, but his men could use a care package.

Ms. Guido told her teachers, and they got to work, guiding students to write letters and create cards for the soldiers. They also collected everything from food, candy, and powdered drinks to personal-hygiene supplies and socks from their students. In all they amassed more than 100 pounds’ worth, which they mailed off to Iraq.

They also put together a package for Adam Barrientos, older brother of an eighth-grader at the school. He’s in Special Operations and is stationed in Iraq.

“My brother doesn’t really ask for much, he just wants to make sure he does something good,” Jane Barrientos, 14, said. “It’s important because you don’t know what they’re going through.”

The second- and third-grade special education students made an extra sacrifice for the drive. They normally accumulate points for such tasks as doing their homework and sharpening two pencils before class. Usually, they turn in points for little presents, perhaps gel pens or a notebook, from a “treasure box” compiled by their teacher, Maria Salgado. This time, Ms. Salgado told the students they could choose to turn in some of their points for gifts that would go toward the Iraq drive. The students ended up competing to see who could donate the most points.

“I told them it’s easy to ask your parents for something,” Ms. Salgado said. “It’s hard to give it up yourself.”