180 Beanie Babies shipping out to Iraq

Among many 10-year-olds, Beanie Babies are so 5 minutes ago.

So fifth-grade students at St. Martin's Lutheran School in Annapolis simultaneously found a way this month to cleanse themselves of the animals, help Iraqi children and work within Department of Defense mail restrictions.

The Beanie Babies - 180 in all - were stuffed into boxes yesterday at the school by Cindy Riera's class.

The Atwells of Arnold, including 10-year-old Kristin Atwell, is nestling batteries, compact discs and gummy bears among the babies. The boxes are then being sent to her cousin stationed in Iraq, Army 1st Lt. Ben Butler, who plans to give...