Thread: Operation Iraqi Children is launching a drive for items other than school supplies

SORRY MEANT TO POST IN MAIN SECTION!

My friend Sara has asked me to post this:
__________________________________________________ _____________

Operation Iraqi Children is launching a drive for items other than school supplies
__________________________________________________ _____________THIS IS A REAL WORTHY EFFORT PLEASE CONSIDER IT WHEN YOU RECIVE YOUR UPCOMING WINFALL...DONATE SOMETHING NOW TO HELP THE CHILDREN>>>

<<<< OR BETTER YET, USE SOME FUNDS TO ADOPT A SCHOOL IN-COUNTRY BY SETTING UP A TRUST FUND THAT WILL CONTINUE FOREVER....PLEASE CONSIDER!>>>>
Sara

Operation Iraqi Children

Operation Iraqi Children is launching a drive for items other than school supplies which are urgently needed by the Iraqi people. Heating fuel shortages and power outages make running heaters very difficult, if not impossible, in a country where temperatures often drop to freezing at night. Basic necessities such as blankets and shoes are essential for survival. Our soldiers need our help to provide these items for the many Iraqi citizens who are struggling just to stay warm.
The Answer:
Donations for Urgent Needs may be made in the form of a contribution of any of the items on the list, or monetarily. All monetary donations, directed specifically to the Urgent Needs fund, will be used to purchase blankets and shoes. These items will be shipped, along with the school supply kits, to Iraq to be distributed by our soldiers. Donations may be made online or sent to:

People to People International
501 E. Armour Blvd.
Kansas City, MO 64109

Please make checks out to PTPI/OIC and write IFF-OIC Urgent Needs on the memo line.
Urgent Needs Items:

Blankets
Shoes
Tarps

SSG Raymond Knapp
Civil Affairs
December 27, 2006

My name is SSG Raymond Knapp. I work for the Civil Affairs section of my Battalion. My battalion has base defense responsibilities for Camp Adder in Southern Iraq, Dhi-Qar province. We use your bags to influence the local community and build relationships with the local villages. We have over 25 schools in our Base Defense Area. The smallest school is
35 students and the largest one is over 500 kids. We estimate we have touched the lives of over 2,000 kids in a positive manner through the use of your school supplies. Nothing can beat the feeling of goodwill when a young soldier hands a packet of school supplies to a needy Iraqi kid. Your work and ours has a positive effect in helping the people and more than likely saves soldiers lives. Thanks for all your good work

CH (CPT) Kevin Wainwright
Battalion Chaplain, 3-8 Combined Arms Battalion
November 7, 2006

Sir/Ma'am:


I have forgotten where I read about your wonderful program, but I had to write as soon as I heard what you do. I am a battalion chaplain with the 3-8 Combined Arms Battalion. We have the responsibility to protect to Shia cities, Balad and Ad Dujayl, from insurgent attacks. Both communities are surrounded by Sunnis. We have been working hard to reopen schools that have been closed for three weeks. Insurgents have purposely targeted them with threats and mortar attacks. Once we get the schools open, however, we still face a critical shortage of supplies. I have written several churches and community groups back in the States requesting help, and help is definitely on its way. I know that we will need more.

Even if you cannot help me, let me share with you this true story about the need over here. We were on a combat patrol and stopped at a cluster of houses along the Tigris. As the platoon leader spoke with the village men, a large group of children inevitably clustered around us. We started to pass out some food and candy, which they were asking for, until one of them spied the pens a soldier had tucked in his sleeve. One after another of the children started asking for pens instead of the candy or food. For you see, over here, one cannot go to school unless you bring your own supplies. We are in a poor area and are doing all we can, but we could sure use your help. Thank you for taking some of your time to consider my request. Take care.

Gratia et Veritas,

CH (CPT) Kevin Wainwright
3-8 CAB, 1CD
Blog-www.warhorsechaplain.blogspot.com

Helping Iraqi Schools

How to Ship


Update on package sizes:
For Priority Mail: The parcel cannot exceed 108 total inches. Total inches is measure as the circumference of the length plus the circumference of the girth.

• For Routine Mail: 130 inches total
• For both: Weight cannot exceed 70 lbs.

NOTE: it is not necessary to send by priority mail! Regular mail only takes a few days more and is much cheaper. Don't be mislead by claims that it takes months longer!

If you have pallets to ship, please contact Chuck Donnelly at [email protected] to get the latest information on handling these kinds of shipments.

From Major Softy:
We understand that the APO can only handle "care package" size shipments. Large, bulk shipments are a constraint we are working through. We are attacking the problem on many fronts and hope to come to some resolution in the near future. Smaller packages are not an issue that we are aware of, and can continue to be shipped.
1/24/2007
As of the latest rotation, the schools program
will be carried out by CPT Alex Murray
NEW ADDRESS
CPT Alex Murray
HHC, 1-18IN, 2BCT, 1ID
APO AE 09361

NOTE: You will have to fill out a customs declaration form for each box. It's a pain to fill out all that, but it's part of what we all have to do to get the stuff out there. Click here for suggestions from our discussion forum. (You will have to log-in to read the comments - no big deal.)

One way we have been told optimizes the shipping of packages is to shop on line and have supplies shipped directly to the APO address. I know this option is not suitable to all, but it is an option to help others participate. We realize that every dollar spent on shipping is a dollar lost in supplies.

A note from one of Major Softy's Donors:

Thank you for this. I have been looking for good organizations to donate to to help our soldiers and the Iraqis. This is a very, very worthy cause.

Originally Posted by apwerner

Thank you for this. I have been looking for good organizations to donate to to help our soldiers and the Iraqis. This is a very, very worthy cause.

This looks great. I have been looking for a fund that helps our wounded soldiers who are comming home. Does anyone have info on one?
You can P.M. me. When/if the dinar pans out I would like to help our men an women who sacrificed for us.

I wonder do they have to be new items?? I have tons of kids clothes and juniors too, very gently used and some not worn at all....seems a waste just to have them sitting in my basement......anyone know?