Posted on 04/27/2007 6:20:06 PM PDT by SandRat
BAGHDAD Service members on Camp Victory whose day-to-day mission doesnt include opportunities to interact with the Iraqi people may do so through the base chaplains humanitarian assistance program, Hearts for Baghdad.
While all of the Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen who deploy to Iraq play an important role in the war on terrorism through the jobs they do here, many of them also have a desire to positively impact the lives of the Iraqi people on a more personal level, said Multi-National Corps Iraq Navy Chaplain (Lt. Cdr.) Dan Stallard. Getting involved with the work the chaplains do at the Civilian Military Operations Center is one way they can do this.
Hearts for Baghdad volunteers help to meet the quality-of-life needs of the children and families of Iraq by delivering items such as personal hygiene products, diapers, wet wipes and lotions for babies, over-the-counter medicine, shoes, school supplies and soccer balls.
More than 1,200 Iraqis come to the CMOC each month to receive basic medical care from the clinic, Stallard said.
Volunteers who participated April 14 arrived with 20 boxes of personal health and hygiene items, and - just for the kids - 12 boxes of donated soccer balls and equipment.
Soccer is an excellent sport to build team work and camaraderie, Stallard said. This was the first time we had soccer gear to give out.
The boxes of new and used soccer gear, which included soccer cleats, socks, shin-guards, jerseys, soccer balls and a net were sent to Iraq thanks to the efforts of friends of Marine Col. Michael McCarthy, chief of operations, MNC-I Joint Operations Center.
Friends of my family, Sherri and Henri Dussault, started it all with an e-mail to the Fort Worth Futbol Club director, Jim Harris, who in turn, e-mailed the club managers and coaches asking for donations, McCarthy said.
We never expected such a response from just a few e-mails," Sherri said. But the next thing I knew, the back of my suburban was full (of soccer gear).
Once the gear was collected, the Dussaults mailed the gear to Iraq at their expense, McCarthy said.
The joy of seeing people reaching out is uplifting, Sherri said.
Serving in the JOC, it's easy to lose touch with the real world, being surrounded by computers and multi-screen map displays, McCarthy said.
The time spent at the CMOC allowed me to act as a conduit between my compassionate friends and our Iraqi neighbors, outside of the confines of the JOC.
Stallard said the Hearts for Baghdad program is growing. In addition to numerous e-mails he received from people who plan to donate supplies, he said a real estate firm is donating several boxes of supplies and Military Times recently sent dozens of shoes.
In order to get these goods into the hands of the Iraqi families who need it, the chaplains are dependent on service members volunteering. Those interested in participating in the Hearts for Baghdad outreach should call Stallard at 822-2115/4330.
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