NASHUA — While most Americans will celebrate Independence Day with backyard barbecues and Main Street parades, there will still be hundreds of New Hampshire service members far from family during the holiday.

To recognize their dedication and sacrifice, about 1,500 care packages have been prepared to ship to those service members stationed overseas.

Dozens of volunteers helped pack the boxes on Thursday and Friday. They are intended to arrive in Iraq and Afghanistan by the Fourth of July. Included in the care packages are small American flags, pillowcases decorated in red, white and blue, and other festive cards and banners created by students from throughout New Hampshire.

“The American people, aside from their political views, are behind our servicemen and women. This packing event crosses all political lines, and it is truly heartwarming,” said Deb Bohannan of Merrimack.

Bohannan has volunteered several hours for Moore Mart, the non-profit organization that spearheaded the care package project. To date, Moore Mart has sent out about 36,000 packages to New Hampshire military members since its inception nearly seven years ago.

On Thursday, nearly 40 people gathered at the National Guard Armory to fill boxes with personal care items, playing cards, socks, granola bars, candy, beef jerky and other necessary and sought-after items.

Most of material items were donated by groups and businesses. A city church, Grace Fellowship, donated 1,600 travel-size Bibles to include in the care packages, according to Paul Moore, co-founder of Moore Mart, who said the Bibles are valued at about $6,000.

Moore’s organization has grown as the number of deployed New Hampshire service members had continued to rise. And, he said area businesses have stepped up to donate materials for the packages.

Five times a year, Moore Mart will send out care packages to New Hampshire troops, all of them individually addressed to a specific service member. While most of the items are for the troops, some things in the packages are for village children, including candy and soccer balls.

“The New Hampshire National Guard just sent out its largest deployment since World War II,” said Moore. “We have had a 300 percent increase in demand.”

The price tag for the latest care packages is about $22,000, according to Moore, who said his organization relies on financial contributions and donations of items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, Girl Scout cookies and simple hand-made notes from New Hampshire school children.

“These men and women give up everything for a period of time, and the least we can do is help give them a taste of home so that they know people still care,” said Bohannan, who said many of the soldiers send thank you cards in return.

Cathy Caswell spent her afternoon organizing items for the care packages. Her nephew, Benjamin Caswell, of Massachusetts, is stationed in Iraq. She recruited coworkers from Bank of America to help with the packing.

“This is for such a great cause, and really helps me feel like I have done something worthwhile,” said Caswell, adding Moore Mart is an amazing organization that deserves to be recognized.

The company was established in 2004 by Moore and his sister, Carole Biggio, who were trying to assist their brother, Brian Moore, who was stationed in Iraq at the time. In an effort to support his unit, the Moores began sending out 10 care packages a month.

It eventually snowballed into 40 boxes a month and then 100, according to Paul Moore. At that point, he said the American Legion became involved with the project, and routine packing events were planned.

Moore, a Milford District Court judge, is also a U.S. Army veteran.