'Kids of Iraq' give to the children of Baghdad

Photo By Craig Lifton | Army Sgt. 1st Class Robert Correa, with the 3rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command watches as Airmen with the 732nd Expeditionary Security Forces patrol through a housing area inside the International Zone, Jan. 10. Mackey was in the IZ with a group of volunteers of a service members' organization called "Kids of Iraq," who were delivering toys, clothes and school supplies. The supplies, weighing more than 500 pounds.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

01.29.2009

Story by Tech. Sgt. Craig Lifton 

332d Air Expeditionary Wing

By Tech. Sgt. Craig Lifton
332nd Air Expeditionary Wing

BAGHDAD INTERNATIONAL ZONE, Iraq – Thanks to an early morning trip on a pair of Army UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, a team of service members transported more than 500 pounds of supplies to a group of young Iraqis in Baghdad.

Supported by the 732nd Air Expeditionary Group religious support team, volunteers with a group called "Kids of Iraq" recently brought toys, clothes and school supplies to a Baghdad orphanage.

Formed in 2008, Kids of Iraq is the first organization of its kind. The intent of the group is gathering and distributing much needed items to underprivileged and orphaned children in Iraq.

"Kids of Iraq was started by an Airman who had seen an area we could improve," said 1st Lt. Lawrence Hufford, a civil engineer with the 732nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron. "We are improving the relationships between the American military and the Iraqis."

Hufford, who is deployed from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., explained there are several Kids of Iraq organizations throughout Iraq, including one at Joint Base Balad. The groups are made up of deployed service members and civilians volunteering their free time to help with the growing inventory, and are facilitated by military chaplains.

"The donations come from the American Red Cross, different units, and from the people of the United States," said Hufford, a native of Hamilton, Ohio. "We have received donations from any kind of organization you can think of; we even had a Boy Scout working on his Eagle Scout project send over donations he had collected."

On a recent trip, service members with both the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing and the Army's 3rd Expeditionary Support Command, ventured out early, leaving JBB en route to Washington Landing Zone in the IZ. With bags full of things like dolls, pens and backpacks, they crammed into the passenger compartment of a Black Hawk for the flight.

Once in Baghdad the service members waited in a parking lot as a truck filled with children arrived. The girls and boys watched the men and women in uniform with careful reserve. No expressions showed on their little faces as they approached. But as the first toy, a small doll was presented, a girl's smile appeared. The children's defenses dropped and their faces changed to picture-perfect happy.

The 3rd ESC was represented by Army Sgt. Maj. Chris Mackey, support operations Sergeant Major who is deployed from Fort Knox, Ky., and Sgt. 1st Class Robert Correa, petroleum operations sergeant from Tucson, Ariz.

"I was able to see the whole process from the beginning all the way to the finish," said Correa from New York City. "We got to see and come into contact with the kids, and see their reactions."

The children were escorted by Noha Al-Agha, a cultural advisor to the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

Her work with the orphans of Iraq is currently helping more than 150 boys and girls, all without homes. Al-Agha is also a staff member of a non-profit organization called "generation Iraq" which is responsible for orphanages.

"This is a wonderful thing, and we really appreciate this," said Al-Agha "It is very important that the Iraqi orphans are taken care of."

Al-Agha explained how all of the children found their way to generation Iraq. Some were found by police living on the streets while some had been found in the garbage. The children can stay in the orphanage until they reach the age of 18.

The Soldiers and Airmen spent some time with the children. Giving them candy and taking pictures.

As the children were getting back into the truck, one little girl stopped, waved showed her new backpack to everyone around and said "thank you."

That's what it's all about.

• Date Taken: 01.29.2009
• Date Posted: 01.29.2009 08:24
• Story ID: 29403
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ