Spirit of America

Technical Sergeant Sherry Martin's Good Neighbors Program

Reach out to 100 Iraqi children in need of necessities and recreational supplies

Air Force Technical Sergeant (TSgt) Sherry Martin is stationed at Camp Victory, Iraq near Baghdad and her goal is to provide for 100 Iraqi children through project "Good Neighbors". She writes to us that a team visits the children every week and that during every visit "you hear gunfire in the background and the children just ignore [it] because it is so common to them." These kids, particularly those ages 9-16, are desperately in need of clothing, shoes, hygiene kits along with sports equipment such as soccer balls and basketballs. With your support of this Good Neighbors project, SoA will help TSgt Martin bring a little good into these children's difficult lives.

TSgt Sherry Martin making friends in Iraq

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The Original Request from Technical Sergeant Sherry Martin
"The project is titled the Good Neighbors Program for the Iraqi children. Every Friday a team visit them and takes them items that they need. It is the family of the special forces guys who have been identified as helping us. Because they help us they have been marked and so have their families. It is because of their wanting to help us that has them locked down on camp and not able to shop like normal people do. Every time we go visit you hear gunfire in the background and the children just ignore because it is so common to them. No child should have to hear gunfire and mortars but these children do. Even some of the soldiers who go with us to visit them cringe, as they hear it in the background, because they don't stop what they are doing they just keep on playing...

Team at Camp Victory reaching out to Iraqi kids It seems that it easy for churches and people to send baby items but the older children, who range from 9-16, miss out. The last time I went to visit I noticed some of the boys were wearing girl jeans because that's all they had to wear. I noticed some of their sandals were too small for their feet. I then thought of my three children at home and how I just sent clothes to Goodwill. My first visit we took a box full of toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs, brushes, shoes, clothes, and snacks. The items were gone in about 15 minutes. The children are lined up each time and the little ones are given their items first. The older ones sometimes jump out of line when they see things in a box that they think won't be there when they get to the front of the line. In a matter of seconds you have children all around you reaching, and saying, "can I please have" all at once. I believe they think that whatever it is that you have in the box/boxes will be gone before they have their turn. If a child comes after 20 minutes most of the items are gone. We sit around after the gift giving, watch them play, and build trust with each visit. If a child becomes attached to you and you miss a visit they wonder where you went. They sometimes don't understand why we don't visit all the time. We try to explain because of where we are...work sometimes gets in the way of that. We also show them pictures of our families. So it is truly a blessing to be a part of. It would be great if you could help our effort."
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.