Operation Iraqi School Supplies

Iraqi kids at school

I was overwhelmed to find this email in my inbox this morning from my friend Diane, my son's Scoutmaster:

Hey Bob,

We have been working feverishly to get you some of the things you requested for the children there. Last week we ordered 50 soccer balls, 576 gross of pencils, 576 gross of erasers, 1200 pieces of white chalk, 600 pieces of colored chalk, 72 geometry sets (including rulers, protractors, compasses etc.), 60 solar calculators, 12 solar desk calculators for teachers! All thanks to extra candy bar monies and donations. The items should be arriving here any day and we will ship asap and I will let you know as soon as they have shipped them.

Do you have a way to pump up the soccer balls once they arrive or should I see if someone could donate an electric pump?

I am attaching a copy of the flier we are distributing to the boys and their families this week. I think the name is kind of clever even if I say so myself!

Hope all is well, and remember you are in our thoughts and prayers!

Miss Diane

All I can say is THANK YOU and I am so proud to be part of the BSA Troop 273 family!

It is a tough life growing up in Iraq, war or peace. The economy is in shambles and the projected $10 billion in annual oil revenue (once we get the oil flowing again) is not going to be a big enough economic engine. One school I visited last week had a family of squatters move into the outdoor toilet building while reconstruction was underway. There were at least 6 kids standing outside and they will soon be homeless again.