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- Operation Iraqi School Supplies
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The Marine Corps League initiated a
statewide program of collecting School supplies for delivery to Iraqi
children.
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The
Iraqi School Supplies project began at a dinner conversation. Discussing the war
in Iraq and how our troops were faring there the subject turned to more peaceful
pursuits. A first grade teacher, Mrs. Donna Eidsness, made a comment concerning
school supplies after an observation was made that American soldiers were
rebuilding schools in Iraq, a scarce commodity for females.
Newspaper article about Mills School supplies program.
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It
was determined that school supplies were probably a premium and that it would
be difficult to do a decent job without pencils, paper and notebooks. A
suggestion was made to take up a collection in her school to send supplies to
American servicemen to distribute but soon the target escalated from school to
district and it was decided to ask each school in Casper to contribute.
But that proved unacceptable as it was determined that
Wyoming, being the state with the smallest population and citizens who were
reputed to be the friendliest of any state in the Union, would readily accept
the opportunity to help children in Iraq to succeed in school.
So it began. Each school district was contacted by E-mail and
the questions rolled in. Some schools already were doing things for soldiers.
Some were sending packages and letters. Many schools were involved in
supporting men and women from their community who had been activated for
service in Iraq. Many were supporting families, both financially and
spiritually. And many sent boxes of schools supplies.
CY Junior High in Casper was one of our earliest supporters.
 Dr.
Braughton was forced into carrying boxes out to the trailer. The students were
in class so any one running through the hallway was taken.
In Green River Wyoming there were two schools that were
deeply involved with the Iraqi project. Truman Elementary had over thirty
boxes delivered to Casper.
 In
the picture are the Second Grade Class of Jackson Elementary, the teacher, Mr.
Senter Timmons, and the principal Ms. Cathy
Hemker and the principal of Truman Ms. Ellen Davidson. Ms. Davidson was kind
enough to come over the Jackson School to meet me. She had already sent a
pickup load to Casper. She was thoughtful enough to wrap the boxes in black
plastic bags because Wyoming was having a snowstorm at that time. The Parent
Teachers Organization by Ms. Patrice Lee successfully completed the drive.
There was a Riverton High School sent supplies by a counselor
coming to Casper. Ms. Gay Huges brought several boxes, which were collected by
the Key Club, a Kiwanis Youth Group. She really went out of her way to get the
supplies to Casper. She was understandably proud of her students, which have a
regular program of community activities.
Ms. Demester of Aspen Elementary in Evanston Wyoming was
considerate enough to send the packages UPS. Evanston is three hundred and
fifty miles from Casper and Casper is in the middle of the State so these
supplies were shipped over a great distance.
 In
Cheyenne I met with the Hobbs Elementary student council and their sponsor,
Ms. Helen Gerstein. Hobbs Elementary was a very active school. School was out
when we arrived but there were scores of students doing all kinds of things in
classrooms, in the hallway, in the library and the gymnasium. The enthusiasm
of the students was evident by the attention they were giving to all the
activities going on. It speaks well of Hobbs but this is a typical grade
school in Wyoming. Wyoming has never had any of the problems of other states
and the schools are well funded by the legislature. Wyoming has never had a
deficit in its budget in fact this year there was a surplus of over one
billion dollars and it will be spent on schools in the state. Unlike many
states, Wyoming funds itself but then Wyoming is a very wealthy state with low
taxes and a small population.
I have enclosed her reply to my E-mail because there were a
variety of reasons people got involved. This was a very proud mother helping
her Marine son complete the job.
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Leo:
Hobbs Elementary School is willing to participate in this program. Our
Student Council will be taking on this task. We think we will center it
around Halloween and that students will be "treating" the kids in Iraqi with
pencils and whatever. Let us know the supplies you would really like to see.
I am more than willing to assist the Marine Corps League. My son returned
from Operational Iraqi Freedom in June. He is with the 2nd Marine Division
but was attached to the 1st Marine Division during this conflict.
Besides being a teacher at Hobbs Elementary school, I am the Proud Parent of
Cpl Gerstein, USMC.
Helen Gerstein
PMM of Cpl Gerstein
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Halloween
Trick or Treats proved very helpful to Hobbs Elementary in Cheyenne.
Cheyenne is one hundred and seventy-seven miles from Casper
in the southeast corner of the state just nine miles from the Colorado line.
It is three hundred and seventy-two miles from Cheyenne to Evanston in the
southwestern corner of the state, which is just five miles from the Utah line.
The distances in Wyoming are huge yet we got supplies
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Donate above to the Special Olympics Colors unit for
Wyoming being formed by the Central Wyoming Detachment #807,
Marine Corps League
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