Important Toy Drive Update! Posted on 12/29/2003 2:51:16 PM PST by Ragtime Cowgirl
Sunday, December 28, 2003
Help?
Does anyone know where these 50 plus boxes of clothes came from? A few days ago FedEx pulled into the parking lot of the CPA with an entire flat bed truck full of clothes, in 25-pound FedEx boxes. I have no idea where they came from or who sent them. Please, if any of you have any idea about these boxes please let me know, so I can give credit where credit is due. I was totally blown away by the immensity of the shipment and the generosity of the person or people who sent them. Thanks so much. We have already been taking these out to various locations dispersing them to needy people.
Out of touch but not out of mind.
Sorry for being out of touch for the last few days over Christmas. The CPA was closed for a couple of days, so I decided to spend that time giving toys and school supplies to the Iraqi children in previously unvisited locations. It was a jammed packed couple of days, full of emotional and memorable experiences. I can’t begin to thank you enough for all that you have made possible. Words cannot express the joy that has come to the children and all of us on the team.
Through all of your gracious donations and contributions, I have been able to touch so many lives in so many ways. The toys have opened up a whole new world to all of us on the “Sharing Joys with Toys” team of do-gooders. It is just amazing what a small toy can do for a young child in need, who perhaps might otherwise grow up with out even the simplest of toys to play with.
We have definitely been out doing what you would have us do with the toys you have sent. I have personally been out putting your toys in the hands of young children all over this country. Over the last couple of days we have given toys to over 1,000 now happier children, who give back to you all that they can, a big smile.
Responding to your letters
Many of you have inserted into your boxes of toys small notes and letters addressed to myself, Chief Wiggles, expressing your appreciation for what we are doing and your humble desires for the toys. I have received so many letters and due to my own time constraints it has been difficult to respond. But, I thought is would be nice to begin responding to a few each time I write. Many of you just want me to confirm that I have received your box of joy, putting your mind at ease that your donation has reached its destination.
As time becomes available I will make every effort to respond to your kind letters.
A big Thanks goes out to:
Gwyneth ___ for your kind letter and box of toys
To the ___ Family, all six of you, in Connecticut
Jason ___ in Wellsboro PA, who is only 13
A Special Example
Yesterday, I received an email from a young woman who informed me that her son’s father had been killed in Mosul on November 15th. Regardless of the terrible loss for her son, she was anxious to share toys with the children of the very country who killed him. Putting all hatred and prejudice aside, she wanted to participate in our “Sharing Joys with Toys” drive, wanting to know what she could do.
The Iraqi children are the sad victims of both the evil rule of Saddam the dictator and the subsequent war that has taken the lives of their fathers and loved ones. Children on both sides, from all coalition countries, will suffer from the consequences of this conflict.
The struggle and the killing continue on both sides, as we attempt to root out the evil forces imbedded in this country. Evil, in the form of greed, corruption, hatred, and unrighteous power and control, does not relinquish or retreat with out a fight and there is a price to pay. Our men continue to pay the ultimate sacrifice to bring about the desired result, the freedom of the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people. We offer them freedom from the evil forces that have for so long enslaved them, affecting generations of Iraqi people.
The children represent a hopeful future for this country. We can affect and bring about a change in their young pliable minds, as we reach out even with a small toy.
CNN:
As you know I had a live interview with CNN last week on Christmas Eve. I was a bit frazzled due to the fact that I was running late and got in a little fender bender with a bus on the crowded streets of Baghdad. Regardless of my performance I hope that the additional interest and coverage will influence many more to contribute toys and money for this cause.
The Drive goes on full steam ahead:
As Plunge mentioned OperationGive.org continues on in full force, with thousands of toys now ready to ship from our donated warehouse in Baltimore. We have two 40-foot containers getting loaded up to make the journey across the water. A small amount of packages trickle in each day through the military’s mail system, which keeps me supplied with toys until my ship comes in.
I have set up a strong network of wonderful people who are willing to carry on with this program even after my departure in March. I have doctors, businessmen and other professional people who have volunteered to insure that the toys get delivered to the children. Many of these people have been involved from the programs inception several months back and have participated with me on all of the toy drops that we have made.
I have total and complete confidence that these people will fulfill my wishes for the toys to get to those who need them the most.
We will, through your help, bring about a change and affect the hearts and minds of the people of this country, one toy at a time, one child at a time.
Chief Wiggles Comic Book:
We have about 60 drawings penciled and inked for the first story, just waiting now for the artist to finish the coloring, which should be done in the next couple of weeks. We hope to be printing the first edition by the middle of January. I will put a few of the drawings on the web site for you to get a feel for the style and feel of the book.
Thanks so much for all of your stories; they are just fantastic, giving us many options for additional editions. We appreciate the help of one special professional comic book storywriter, who is willing to help us format the stories and the dialogue for each picture.
Change is happening
There are several sure signs of change here in Iraq.
The four Saddam heads which once adorned the CPA palace are gone forever.
Saddam has been captured and will forever be out of commission
Saddam’s barber who was harassing his employees in the CPA salon and stealing their tips has been removed
All but a handful of the deck of 52 bad guys have been caught
A linguist who was getting kickbacks from contracts was fired
The security director for one of the ministries has been removed after allegations of corruption and receiving kickbacks
The CPA grounds are being beautified and cleaned up.
People in the south for the first time are able to travel to the north or wherever they want.
People can think and say what they think at any time and place they chose.
And on and on
More to come later.
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| Important Toy Drive Update! |
(Excerpt) Read more at chiefwiggles.blog-city.com ...
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Steve Centanni ~ FoxNews ~ Thursday, December 04, 2003
BAGHDAD, Iraq — Life for the children of Iraq hasn't always been full of fun and games. Forty percent of the Iraqi population is under 18, children who were born under the oppressive rule of Saddam Hussein.
The dictator's priorities were clearly not focused on children... A U.S. Army officer who calls himself "Chief Wiggles" is doing his part to change all that. Chief Warrant Officer Paul Holton, from Salt Lake City, Utah, is an army interrogator based in Baghdad. One day he saw a crying child on the other side of the razor-wire fence separating the American enclave from the rest of the city. He helped reunite the child with her mother, and calmed her down by giving her a stuffed animal. That small gesture has grown into a major effort to help the children of Iraq. See: Baghdad Journal: Toys for Iraqi Tots |
Our "Chief" interrogator continues to spread good will in Iraq, and beyond.
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