Volunteers collect supplies for local Iraqi schools

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. J. LaVoie
  • 506th Expeditionary Communications Squadron
KIRKUK AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) --  Most adults remember the joy of receiving a new box of crayons or coloring book as a child. In the U.S., this moment of joy is easy to achieve, but in Iraq, it is nearly impossible for some schoolchildren.

Airmen and Soldiers here are trying to change that -- one school packet at a time.

As participants of the school supply effort, the volunteers collect, sort and deliver supplies to local Iraqi schools.

“There are a lot of poor families in the Kirkuk area (who) cannot afford the necessary school supplies for their children,” said Chaplain (Capt.) Ivan Torres-Graciano of the 506th Air Expeditionary Group. “I come from a poor family, and every year we had to use notebooks from the previous year that had not been entirely used, because my parents did not have enough money to afford all new notebooks for us. I know how important it is for children to have new school supplies for the new school year.”

Supplies for the packets are donated from organizations and individuals in the U.S. Once the supplies get here, Airmen and Soldiers sort the donations and prepare the packets. As many as 400 packets can be made in a few hours if there are enough volunteers and supplies; currently the program is short on both.

“We are providing a service that is greatly needed,” said Army Sgt. Imelda Remillard, of the 116th Brigade Combat Team and program coordinator. “The supplies go to local students, and the toys go to orphanages.”

For Airmen who work directly with local Iraqis, the need is apparent.

“I’m here to help people out because they have less than us. I work with them every day and see the assistance is appreciated,” said Airman 1st Class Shane Leary, an escort with the 506th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron. “They don’t have much. If they see shampoo that’s been lying around for awhile, they ask if they can have it. I’ve never had to worry about things like that.”

Supplies are also needed to keep the program alive.

“What stops us from making more packets is we’re always running out of coloring books,” Sergeant Remillard said. “We depend on the supplies sent to us in order to keep the program going.”

Items currently needed are coloring books, glue, rulers, scissors, pencil sharpeners and notebooks. The volunteers are currently overrun with pencils, and they cannot accept food, candy, money or religious items.