Posted on 04/18/2008 7:22:37 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Association of FFA, formerly the Future Farmers of America, has collected and shipped 7,000 pairs of shoes to Iraq to help Iraqis in need.
The idea for "Operation Stand Solid" came from Sgt. First Class Gary Olson, a Fort Atkinson agricultural teacher who served in Iraq as a member of the Wisconsin Army National Guard.
During his first deployment to Iraq, Olson found that many Iraqi children lacked shoes.
He suggested to state FFA officers the idea of starting a shoe collection program, so the 251 FFA chapters throughout the state started soliciting donations of new and like-new shoes.
Shoes and money for postage were collected from community members and the program was expanded to include adult shoes, because so many had been donated.
"The shoes were everything from tennis shoes to work boots, and from small children's sizes to adult size 13," said state FFA adviser Jeff Hicken.
The collections were brought to the Wisconsin State FFA Convention in Madison last year. Then they were sized, boxed and packed into a tractor trailer obtained by the Slinger Chapter of FFA, which handled shipping the shoes to Olson -- who by that time had returned to Iraq -- and his unit.
In an e-mail to Rob Selzler, an FFA adviser at Slinger High School, in January, Olson wrote: "It is amazing how many soldiers are coming to us and requesting shoes to be given out to the youth in the villages that they patrol. An Army chaplain also came by asking for assistance through the support of children's shoes. The shoes truly are making a difference beyond what words alone can begin to describe."
In a letter last fall, Lt. Col. Julie Gerety of Madison wrote about giving more than 300 pairs of shoes to a village. She called the FFA effort "incredible."
Both Olson and Gerety returned to Wisconsin this week, about seven weeks earlier than expected because replacement troops arrived, but were unavailable for comment as they caught up with civilian life. However, Selzler said that more shoes will still be sent, once he finds out from Olson who will receive them.
About 7,000 pairs of new shoes were shipped and 3,000 remain to be shipped when sufficient postage funds are raised, he said. Anyone wishing to contribute may send a check, made out to Slinger FFA, to Selzler at Slinger High School, 209 Polk St., Slinger, WI 53086-9585.
"We asked for $1 with each pair of shoes, but postage rates changed and we needed more. We are slowly getting more funds from other organizations and FFA alumni chapters," Hicken said.
The National FFA Organization is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of students by developing potential for leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.
The name was changed in 1988 to reflect a more diverse membership among the half-million members nationally.
"FFA officers and members throughout our state have worked hard to support the people of Iraq, and in so doing, have bettered themselves," said Elizabeth Burmaster, state superintendent of public instruction. "They have learned skills of social responsibility and organization that will benefit them, and those who share their world, throughout their lives."
Ping-worthy? :)
Caring Hearts
This is so cool Sandrat
Uplifting !!!
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