Ron Abbot of Sweet Home was planning to dig a new well this summer, but instead is training with the Albany National Guard unit, the 224th Engineers, at Ft. McCoy, Wisc., getting ready to deploy to Iraq in September.

With the old well on his property drying up, his family is left without enough water.

&#8220There are so many burdens that go with deployment and this shouldn't be one of them," said Angela Muse, a volunteer with the National Guard's Family Program.

The Family Program, which supports soldiers and their families whether the soldier is deployed or at home, is seeking donations of water and cash to put in a new well for Abbott.

Muse said Pepsi in Corvallis has contributed a water cooler and water and the Sweet Home Safeway store has donated gallon jugs of water. She and others have arranged for a contractor to do the work at cost, about $5,000.

Donations of water may be left at the Lebanon Armory, 4th and Maple sts. Cash contributions may be made to The Abbot Family Help Fund, an account at Northwest Community Credit Union.

Abbott's civilian job is with South Fork Industrial in Lebanon. He and his wife, Amber, have four children ages 8, 4, 3, and eight months.

The 224 Engineers were mobilized June 3 for two months of training before their deployment to Iraq, where they will clear roads and provide other infrastructure support. The unit specialized in construction-related jobs.