Help_Us_Learn

Kansas Council of Chapters

Help_Us_Learn

Help us Learn…Give us Hope!

Project Help us Learn…Give us Hope! is an effort to provide school supplies to schools in need in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hosted by LTC Tony DeMartino, CPT Brian McCall, CPT Melvin Medrano, and Chaplain Terry Hayes deployed in the war zone and facilitated by retired Colonel Gary LaGrange, the project seeks to engage citizens by having them donate supplies so that they can be distributed directly to the children. There are 45,000 children ranging from Kindergarten to High School ages in 91 schools in the supported area of responsibility and the number is growing exponentially as additional units join the effort. The project draws upon the success of a like effort in Viet Nam 40 years ago. The children are in need of:

Tablets and notebooks Reams of paper Pens Pencils Crayons Glue Scissors Rulers Stencils Tape Staplers Coloring books Basic function calculators Tooth brushes and toothpaste. Back Packs are an especially nice way for them to receive the necessary items. The project is procuring a signature backpack to provide a standard item to each child.
	Children receiving their backpacks

In addition Youth Centers are envisioned to bring together Sunni and Shiite children so that they can come to understand one another in a non-threatening environment. The needs for the center are, CPT McCall writes, “I would ask for simple board games (checkers, chess, Chinese Checkers, Chutes and Ladders, etc.), decks of cards, and jigsaw puzzles. Books will be important because the children study English. Basic readers at the 1st to 4th Grade level are needed. As far as things that make the kids smile, it seems that small trinkets that can be individually distributed are popular (small beanie babies, small action figures,/dolls, toy cars, jump ropes, soccer balls, Frisbees and coloring books).”

“This initiative is definitely helping us develop momentum in my neighborhoods. These operations are also a welcome diversion from our routine patrols because our Soldiers can put smiles on children's faces, build good will and make a difference in a very difficult environment.”
~Cpt Brian McCall

Our effort involves encouraging schools, churches, organizations and individuals to assist.

Please support us as we reach out to these beautiful children and our soldiers. If you have questions or comments, please call Col Gary LaGrange at 785-537-7493 or email at lagrange1@cox.net Gary is willing to travel to make presentations to further explain this project including pictures of the supplies being distributed to children in Iraq. He has a shipping fund and will gladly pick up supplies, box them and ship them for you, or you can mail them direct. More than 7000 pounds have already been shipped with another 1000 collected and other collection efforts are underway.

Help us Learn…Give us Hope! is a plea from a school girl in Afghanistan. Won’t you please help?