Student News Net

            October 8, 2003 


		Major Softy with Iraqi children


                  Grass roots effort helps Iraqi schools
                  Student News Net staff


                  Oct. 6 – It was back to school for Iraqi students October 1. 
                  U. S. soldiers have been busy getting the buildings ready but 
                  are reaching out to their relatives back home to stock the 
                  schools with supplies.

                  MAJOR GREGG SOFTY is serving in Iraq with the 1st Cavalry 
                  Regiment and sent an email to a relative in Minnesota asking 
                  for basic school supplies. In response to the request, Softy’s 
                  relative and a group of friends decided to organize the 
                  effort. The result is a website, www.iraqischools.com, with 
                  all of the information on how anyone can send a small package 
                  of school supplies to Iraq. As of October 2, 238 packages had 
                  been sent.

                  Softy is responsible for a lot of schools in Iraq. He 
                  has nothing to do with the curriculum – just the buildings. He 
                  wants to make sure Iraqi kids have the same supplies that his 
                  own boys and millions of kids in the United States had on 
                  their first day of school. Requested school items include 
                  pens, pencils, paper, markers, rulers, glue, scissors, chalk, 
                  erasers, paint and much more. Softy also welcomes hygiene 
                  products such as shampoo and lotion, sports equipment, 
                  clothes, and toys such as teddy bears.
                  
		  People running the website want to remain in the 
                  background so that the focus can stay on helping Softy in 
                  Iraq. 
                         “Despite what the press and politicians would have you 
                  all believe, our soldiers are making a credible and visible 
                  difference here in Baghdad. Our cause is just, and our 
                  soldiers believe in what they are doing. While we would all 
                  rather be home, morale remains high. Don't be swayed in your 
                  support of our efforts over here by the political rhetoric and 
                  sensationalism in the press. If [we] are going to achieve an 
                  enduring, secure environment for the Iraqis, the keys to the 
                  kingdom lie with the next generation. We have to win the 
                  lasting peace through the children. Thank you in advance for 
                  your help and assistance. I promise you that your efforts and 
                  contributions will directly impact the children and our 
                  soldiers here in Baghdad,” Softy said in his email request.
                  Packages can be sent to:
                  Major Gregg Softy
                  HHT, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment
                  Unit 92841
                  APO AE 09324-2841
                  NOTE: Packages cannot weigh more than 70 lbs. For routine 
                  mail, the package cannot be more than 130 total inches. Total 
                  inches = the measure as the circumference of the length and 
                  the circumference of the girth. For priority mail, total 
                  inches cannot exceed 108 inches.
                   


                  Copyright 2003 The Pencil Group.