Photo By 1st Lt. Angel Richardson | A Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldier hands a backpack to a student of the Al...... read more read more
By 1st. Lt. Angel Richardson
926th Engineer Brigade
BAGHDAD – Students of the Al Kifah Girls School in the Rusafa District of Baghdad received much needed school supplies, toys and clothing, Nov. 18, from Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldiers.
Lt. Col. Carlton Fisher, chaplain, 926th Engineer Brigade, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, Awatef Fadel, the school principal, and Mohamed Abd Al Rahman, mayor of Rusafa, coordinated the school supply donation. The entire 926th Engineer Brigade Family Readiness Group and Families had a hand in organizing the Al Kifah School donation.
"When I got in country, I discovered that several of us were soliciting donations from the 926th Family Readiness Groups, Soldiers' families and churches and organizations back home," said Fisher. "I got together with our chief of staff and Sgt. [Amy] Lehman.
"We consolidated our efforts into one mission entitled: "Operation Peace for Iraqi Children." We changed our priority to school supplies and focused on locating a specific school," he added.
Fisher received clothing from various churches throughout Alabama, North Carolina, Georgia and Illinois. In addition to receiving supplies, 420 backpacks were donated.
Along with Fisher's organization Sgt. Amy Lehman, executive non-commissioned officer, and Sgt. 1st Class Jason Lehman, S2 non-commissioned officer in charge, 926th Eng. Bde., developed "Every Child Counts."
Lehman received more than 150 boxes of supplies, toys and clothing.
"Clothing, shoes, hygiene items, toys and snacks were donated by the Lehman, Girard, Phillips, Kelsey family, over eight different churches and numerous organizations and companies," said Lehman.
Planning started in April 2008 for "Operation Peace for Iraqi Children."
"The mission began back at Camp Shelby when Brig. Gen. [Jeffrey] Talley encouraged us to send soccer paraphernalia and toys for Iraqi kids," said Fisher.
Fisher and his team of volunteers organized, inventoried and packed all of the donations. The 46th Engineer Combat Battalion, out of Fort Polk, La., provided additional support by identifying the school site.
The 890th Engineer Battalion, out of Gulf Port, Miss., received donated items which added to the Al Kifah donation.
Lehman felt it was extremely important to give to the children of Iraq.
"It is important to give to the children of Iraq for two reasons," said Lehman. "One, these children are the future of Iraq and they will be the leaders of tomorrow. Two, they didn't ask for the life styles they have, and if we can help them out in any little way to comfort them or show the children we care, maybe they will look back as the grow older and remember the good the American Soldiers did."
Fisher saw donating the items to the Al Kifah School as a type of reconciliation.
"We saw the mission as an opportunity to give to needy children in Baghdad and build relationships between Iraqi citizens and coalition forces."
The event also broadened Iraqi citizens support from U.S based churches and organizations to engender a free republic in Iraq, said Fisher.
The 926th plans to organize another school donation before they leave.
| Date Taken: | 11.18.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 11.22.2008 11:33 |
| Story ID: | 26669 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 363 |
| Downloads: | 328 |
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