Hi Folks,

I thought it might be a good idea to have a "hearts and minds" contact thread where we can list contacts whose main focus is on winning the hearts and minds of the locals and are requesting primarily clothing, toys, school supplies for kids and teachers, etc rather than items for warriors.   The contacts listed here will not be overlooked contacts as there is a separate thread for those individuals so probably we will not need to post how many requests they have had, etc.  Of course, if you think number of requests would help, feel free to post them.

LT Craig Tecmire requesting shoes and clothing for children and adults, school supplies for children and teachers in Afghanistan.

Matt Vinson (this contact already has a thread of his own) requesting clothing and toys for kids in Iraq.

CW4 Miguel Lira requesting clothing, toys, school supplies for children and elderly in Colombia.

rosemary

rosepeddles:

I thought it might be a good idea to have a "hearts and minds" contact thread where we can list contacts whose main focus is on winning the hearts and minds of the locals and are requesting primarily clothing, toys, school supplies for kids and teachers, etc rather than items for warriors.   

rosemary

Rosemary -- this is a GREAT idea! Thank you!

--Marilyn

JimmiesMommy:

Would kids' books in English be appropriate?

That's a very good question.  I'm guessing in some circumstances -- English class, for example -- the books would be welcome.  I've e-mailed a couple of my contacts to ask them.  I'll let you know what they say.

You might also want to do a search for contacts asking for children's books for the United Through Reading Program.  This is usually handled through the chaplain.  A DVD recording is made of the deployed service man or woman reading a book and the book and DVD is then sent home to their child.  It's a really cool thing to do.

I just did a quick search and two came up:

CPT Geoff Bailey and

SGT Caroline A. Keller

--Marilyn

Jimmies Mommy - no, don't send kids' books in English.

I found the answer at Operation Dreamseed http://www.operationdreamseed.org/.  There is a list of recommended school supplies and on the second page it states, "Books in English are not useful to the students" http://www.operationdreamseed.org/files/supplykits.pdf

Besides specific units asking for "school supplies", look for the units doing humanitarian assistance programs.  The National Guard is doing great programs in Afghanistan.  Check Major Tomberlin's website, the Major is coming home soon but hopefully his site will stay up for a while.  http://blog.al.com/afghanistan/  Take the time to view his photo essay titled "Through a Humvee window" (archived January 2008).  The Major has literally opened the window for us to see Afghanistan through his eyes.   

Young children's  "picture books" with a limited number of english words have been well-received.  

cj/

Thanks for sharing the idea of a Hearts and Minds thread, and especially for the link to Michael Tomberlin's website. I immediately packed up one of the new FRBs for his unit and mailed it out. Hopefully he will let us know who will be taking over some of the humanitarian aid when he leaves so that we have a continued contact there. When I see his photos, the children and women are wearing traditional clothing. What kinds of clothes do they need that we can send? T-shirts? Flip flops? Socks and underwear?

Interestingly enough, my son just contacted me to request children's books in English. I'm sure this is a limited request but he has an Iraqi Army buddy who is teaching his children to read and write English and they need books.

I'm discovering it's a little difficult to find children's books that are culturally sensitive for that region. You know...none of those things we should avoid. I'd appreciate suggestions!!! He has six children and I think they cover from toddler to teen.

Thanks!!

Reta

Hi Reta,

Flash cards might be a good idea to send...help them to learn words before sentences.

There are "chapter" books available and earlier reader chapter books.  I sold them a few years ago and am having a brain lapse right now and cannot think of the titles but your local book store should be able to help you.  They are thin, cute, and easy to read without overwhelming a new reader, especially if it is their second language.

Rosemary

Robert A. Busto - They have many villages in their area (Afghanistan) with many small children, looking for Beanie Babies or items to win the hearts and minds of the young people.

Posted today 03/27/08 

Kevin S. Hepner is a Navy contact in Afghanistan until Jan 2009. He is a contact for 300 males and 50 females, and is also seeking aid for the locals:

27 Mar 2008:
The area we are in does a lot of humanitarian aid (HA) missions to go out and help the people of this country. What would be good is clothing for both adult and children both summer and winter. The children over here are always asking for candy, hard for them to get most places.

He's also asking for letters:

...letters from people letting everyone here know what they are doing means something back there. No matter how many times you hear it, it is always good to hear it because that means this is not a "forgotten" war zone.

Robert A. Busto is a Marine in Afghanistan until Nov 2008. He is a contact for 22 males.

27 Mar 2008:
We have many villages in our area with many small childern. We are looking for beannie babies or items to win the hearts and minds of the young people. 

Wesley M. Rath (U.S. Army) is in Iraq until Sept. 2008.  He is a contact for 9 males/3 females.

March 28, 2008:  His soldiers are helping local schools, and are asking for school supplies and sports balls of all types.  "One of the schools we have in our area has 300 boys and 180 girls. Ages range from 5-14. You all ask and have always asked, what can we help you soldiers with.....they want to smile and see if they can get an immidiate feeling of helping someone ..."

John Capello (U.S. Army) is in Afghanistan until Sept. 2008.  He is a contact for 3 males/2 females.

March 28, 2008:  "We also sponsor a local elementary school so paper, crayons, pencils, pens, erasers, spirals, simple calculators,and non-iconic, non-religious kids preschool reader type books would be great."

SPC Erika L. Sides U.S. Army/Iraq is asking for travel-sized lotion and shoes for Iraqi children. "My biggest goal here is to have a positive impact on as many Iraqi children as possible. They are our future. They will be the ones in the future that determine whether or not they fight us."