Organizations and Soldiers from Logistical Support Area Anaconda recently gathered and distributed toys and school supplies to the village of Abu Hassan.
As part of Operation Iraqi Children (OiC), the 3rd Corps Support Command civil affairs team is in charge of collecting and distributing supplies provided by the OiC and outside organizations.
OIC was founded by actor Gary Sinise, known best for his role as Lt. Dan in "Forrest Gump," along with author Laura Hillenbrand who wrote "Seabiscuit: An American Legend."
Sinise actually visited the Abu Hassan school in 2003 and created the program after seeing the plight of the children and the schools in Iraq.
The group was formed during Operation Iraqi Freedom I and has continued to grow in the past years.
Soldiers and non-profit organizations collect supplies in the United States and then send them to OiC representatives in Iraq.
The mission to Abu Hassan involved Soldiers from the 221st Military Intelligence Battalion based at LSA Anaconda.
"We had gone to the village once before and handed out toys. But last time what we saw they needed most was school supplies," said Staff Sgt. Laurie Miller.
Coordinating with the G-5, the battalion scheduled the mission to deliver OiC items and toys collected Christmas Day by a local Masonic group on Anaconda.
"We try to improve America's image and relations with the people of Iraq and by delivering these supplies we are winning the hearts and minds," said Capt. Manuel Wong, who works in the 3rd COSCOM G-5.
For Soldiers interested in having family members or friends participate in the OiC program, the most efficient way to help Iraqi children is to create school supply kits, which will be distributed to each student.
Assemble each kit according to the following list of items: