KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – Employees from a Knoxville business have donated $2,500 to help bring members of the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment home for Christmas.

The donation was made on Wednesday the employees of David’s Abbey Carpet and Floors. Each year they put together a fund to donate to charity. This year they chose to give to the National Guard unit’s transportation fund.

“I just think that's a great way to help the community,” said David Hayes, owner of David’s Abbey Carpet and Floors. “These young folks are going overseas and will be gone for a year. It is their second trip and I think this is a great opportunity to help them."

The soldiers left on Sunday and have mobilized at Camp Shelby, Mississippi for two months of training. All the money will go to contracting buses to bring them back to East Tennessee for the holidays before their February deployment to the Middle East.

"We just need to get them home for Christmas so they can spend some quality time with their families before they actually go to Iraq,” said Col. Jeff Archer, rear detachment commander of the 278th.

The 278th ACR still needs to collect $18,000 to $20,000 to bring all its members home for Christmas. You can find out how to donate by calling your local armory or the 278th ACR headquarters in Knoxville at (865) 582-3210.