1,200 Iraqi children, teachers receive school supplies

Courtesy Photo | Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Odoardi, HHC, 2nd Bn., 299th Inf. Rgt. civil affairs noncommissioned officer, passes down boxes of school supplies to Capt. Grant Maeshiro, project officer, HHC, 2nd Bn. 299 Inf. Rgt. in a school supply drop that provided more than 1,200 Iraqi children with pens, pencils, paper, erasers and pencil sharpeners.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

10.16.2005

Courtesy Story

DVIDS Hub       

Lance Cpl. Bernadette L. Ainsworth
Multinational Corps Public Affairs Office
October 1, 2005

BAGHDAD, Iraq --More than 1,200 students at three Baghdad schools received school supplies during a simultaneous school supply drop Sept. 25.

Soldiers from Scout Platoon, Company B and Headquarters and Headquarters Co., 2nd Battalion, 299th Infantry Regiment and 322nd Civil Affairs Brigade, Hawaii Army National Guard, got together to provide the primary- through high school-aged children with school supplies.

Each child received a kit containing notebooks, pencils, colored pencils, pens, a ruler, erasers and a pencil sharpener.

Delivering school supplies doesn't only help the children that receive them, it also helps the growth of the local economy, said Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Odoardi, HHC, 2nd Bn., 299th Inf. Rgt. civil affairs noncommissioned officer.

"The supplies were purchased by a local contractor," said Odoardi. "By purchasing items locally, we also help to stimulate the economy by providing a source of revenue for the Iraqis involved in sale, purchase and transport of the supplies."

Not only did the children receive supplies, but the teachers did as well.

Soldiers gave teachers school products, such as chalk, paper and binders which were received as donations from various sources.

"These sources include donations from churches in the U.S., families of Soldiers and from average citizens who have mailed items to us," Odoardi said.

The civil affairs Soldiers also receive items from personnel on the Victory Base Complex.

"Many Soldiers and Chaplains at Victory Base have collected materials and provided them to us for distribution to the citizens living in the area around Victory Base," said Capt. Grant Maeshiro, project officer, HHC, 2nd Bn. 299 Inf. Rgt.

Donations from various sources are always welcomed by the civil affairs Soldiers.

"Many Americans are collecting and shipping materials to us in an effort to support our mission and help the people of Iraq rebuild their country," Odoardi said. "Our unit appreciates the support that we have received from the Soldiers, families and average citizens across the nation."

• Date Taken: 10.16.2005
• Date Posted: 10.16.2005 15:11
• Story ID: 3362
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ