PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - New message from Spirit of America

here is this month's email from SOA. If you have not done so, pplease donate to them. They are really helping people in Iraq and Afghanistan

Greetings Friends and Supporters!
In this email:
*Spirit of America responds to Army 1LT Mitchum's efforts to help local orphanage in Iraq
*Soldier's Angels referrals update-multiple requests-we're making lots of progress!!
*Marines Certificate of Appreciation to Spirit of America
ARMY 1LT MITCHUM REACHING OUT TO HELP IRAQI ORPHANS
We first heard about Army 1Lt Chris Mitchum's efforts from his Dad, who browsed the internet trying to find just the right non profit to help. According to him, Spirit of America was "the exact type of organization that could assist with this request". We're anxious to help him bring joy to these needy children at the Al-Menar Orphanage in Baghdad. It is home to 126 children without parents, from toddlers to teens.
1LT Christopher Mitchum's email request:

"Any help you could offer would be greatly appreciated by the Al-Menar Orphanage. The pictures provided don't show how truly desperate these 126 children need our help. In West Rashid, Baghdad, there is a complete lack of essential services. The community only averages one to two hours of electricity a day. They do not have clean drinking water or a functioning sewage system and there are no trash services. The majority of these children are orphans because there parents were killed due to sectarian violence. If you are able to send clothing. I will make sure that you receive pictures of the children receiving them."

Iraqi Children in Al-Menar Orphanage
Army 1LT Christopher Mitchum first heard about the Al-Menar orphanage while attending the Neighborhood Advisory Council (NAC) which is the most basic from of local government in Iraq. He attends this meeting bi-weekly to hear the local representatives address the essential needs of the community. The council emphasized the Al-Menar orphanage's dire need for essential items such as clothing and shoes along with small toys.
We've ordered 126 pairs of shoes and 2 cases of socks. We're waiting for approval from 1LT Mitchum on clothing we picked out for purchase. Getting his ok on the clothing is another step in our fulfillment process as it is very important to verify the clothing is appropriate for the area in which it will be distributed. Spirit of America would like to make support of this orphanage a long term effort and with your help, will do just that! Click here to support 1LT Mitchum's request to support the needy children at the Al-Menar Orphanage.
SOLDIERS ANGELS-REFERRALS - lots of progress. We've spent over $10,000 fulfilling their recent requests. Here's what's in the queue; some goods are already arriving.
Army Sergeant James Baker in Afghanistan of "Operation Keep Em Warm!"excerpts from his email:

"Every day we roll outside the wire we see kids and adults in need of the basic necessities. We've been seeing this for 12 months now. But today was especially troubling for myself and one of my soldiers. The temperature was a low of 18 and a high 25. That's not including the wind chill factor. During our short convoy of only a few miles we saw at least four children with open toed sandals and no socks on standing in the snow waving as we passed. Later we saw two other young kids with socks and no shoes running in the snow to catch up to our convoy...
If you have any means of helping out, please do so. We are asking for donations of used or new sneakers, boots and socks of all sizes. These kids really do need whatever you can afford to send."
Last month Spirit of America sent 165 pairs of sneakers and 2 cases of socks in various sizes.
Army CW2 David Hooker in Iraq writes in late February:

"I am responsible for a Entry Control Point for local Iraqis. We have 100's of Iraqi's coming in for any kind of help. What I was hoping is if anyone could send baby and kids clothes and stuffed animals. The Iraqi children are the ones really suffering. A lot of them have only one set of clothes and they have either lost their mother or father or both parents during the war. We really enjoy helping them out. It is always nice to put a smile on a kids face Any help would be a blessing."
In an email last month he wrote:

"Thank you for your response. The area I work in, we have a lot of people coming in from different areas and they have nothing. Whatever you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Also the schools in the local villages are pretty much starting over. I have talked with one of the headmasters at the school and he told me that the students can only get one notebook tablet and 2 pencils for the whole year. I had a hard time imagining that. He said that is all the money that they could get. So clothes, stuffed animals, medical supplies and most definitely soccer balls would be great."
Here's what's on the way, 250 soccer balls, 250 beanie babies and 250 backpacks stuffed with school supplies. This will surely bring some smiles to these children!
MARINES CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION FROM CAMP AL TAQQADUM, IRAQ
Last month Marine 1stLt Matt Thompson sent us a Certificate of Appreciation from the 1st Battalion, 11th Marines based out of Camp Al Taqqadum, Iraq. It reads"Your steadfast and unfailing support to the Marine Corps has provided a significant contribution to our mission accomplishment by sustaining our mission and showing Americans support the Iraqi People in this difficult time through your gracious contributions."
With donations to our Marines Request Fund, Spirit of America provided1,000 school kits and soccer balls that were distributed to children in the area. Our walls are getting quite full as our collection of certificates continues to expand, thanks to you!
As always, we appreciate your continued support which allows us to keep responding to requests and to do it quickly. We had 9 new requests just last month, mostly from Afghanistan. You'll be hearing more about those in the coming months.
All the best,
The Spirit of America Team
www.spiritofamerica.net