Army & Air Force Exchange Service Request for Iraq

Staff Sergeant (SSG) Steven Gardner has been in Iraq since April of 2003. He has been "all over" the country and is currently on a mission serving with the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) or the base exchange store in the remote site of Habur Gate on the Iraq/Turkey border. He wants to leave Iraq "knowing I came, I fought and I made a difference in someone's life here". With your help, SoA will honor SSG Gardner's 4+ years of continuous service in Iraq by helping him provide for the local school in this poor region which is in made need of an overhaul in all areas.

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Local School in Poor & Remote Region Needs Supplies

­SSG ­Gardner describes the great need to provide for educational improvements for the local school in Habur Gate:

"The kids are great and the teaching staff try and make do with what they have but with funds and materials not available, they can only do so much. The school is set-up so that the kids attend from middle school through High School...". He reports the "school needs help. The blackboards are a wreck. No fans or cooling systems in the classrooms. No computers. No sports equipment. There are no sports uniforms (they take a lot of pride in soccer). No art supplies to speak of. Basically, they need an overhaul."

Why It Is Important to SSG Gardner and to their overall mission:

"All of this started because of what I have seen and been through. I want to leave here knowing I came, I fought and I made a difference in someone's life here. This area is safe or reasonably so. The people are good." Also, serving in such a remote area with only 56 soldiers assigned to this station, SSG Gardner asserts that "It is to our interest to make friends and gain the support and trust of the locals."

Use of funds
We are a 501c3 nonprofit and your donation is tax deductible. 100% of all project donations (excluding credit card processing fees) will be used for direct project expenses (i.e., purchase and shipping of the needed goods and services). We do not deduct fees or expenses for organization overhead. Those expenses are funded separately. Donation Policy Your donation will be earmarked for this project. Donations in excess of those needed by this project will be used to support other Spirit of America projects.