Army SFC Parker-Hearing Aids & Playground Equipment

Sergeant First Class (SFC) Alexander Parker serving with the Army 287th Sustainment Brigade at COB Adder in Iraq is continuing the work started by his predecessor, Staff Sergeant (SSG) Charles Robinson, to provide for special needs children in Iraq. SFC Parker and the 287th will be working with a school for Iraqi children with a wide range of disabilities including hearing impairment and physical disabilities. In addition, SFC Parker and company want to install playground equipment in several areas throughout their area of operation. With your generous donations of this project, Spirit of America will provide the basic supplies needed such as school kits and soccer balls along with the more immediate needs for these disabled students such as hearing aids, wheelchairs, crutches and hardware for the playground equipment.

Army SFC Alexander Parker with the 287th Sustainment Brigade and an Iraqi friend

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SFC Parker's Email Request

In his introductory email to Spirit of America, SFC Parker shared that students with disabilities are considered "3rd class citizens" by the Iraqi popular and are particularly disadvantaged during difficult times.
With the help of a teammate who is a teacher stateside, SFC Parker hopes to alleviate some of the difficulties for these special students and bring not only improve their educational experience but also give them an outlet for the play time that is so important to growing bones and minds.
"We have been very busy here with missions...Yes we are always in need of school supplies (backpacks, pens, pencils, paper) and soccer balls. We have been doing a project with hearing impaired children and are in need of hearing aids for them. We have quite a few people working on getting them but no one has gotten any yet. The school has 45-55 children in it. There is also a need for crouches and wheel chairs. The school is open to all disabilities so there is a wide mix of disabilities.
Another mission we are getting ready to start is playground equipment. Our R&U section is starting to construct swing sets, teeter totter, and merry go rounds. We will be putting together 5-6 playgrounds in areas that do not have electricity so that the children have somewhere to hang out and play in a safe environment so they are off the streets.
What we would be looking for would be the hardware ie... Chains for the swings plastic seats for the swings, hard wear for holding the swing sets together(Bolts, nuts, washers), and also the ball bearings for the merry go rounds.
We have the wood, pipe, paint and labor to put the playground equipment together. We are wanting to start this project around the middle of March and continue building the equipment until the middle of May. In addition the play ground equipment we are getting with the Iraqi army to put in soccer fields next to the play ground equipment so it is will be an all ages park.
Thank you,
SFC Parker, Alexander

SFC Parker getting soccer balls donated by SoA ready for action

SFC Alexander Parker and company meeting with local Sheiks

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