Sara, a Baghdad youngster, shows off her Beanie Baby, "Courage." The toy was a gift from Maj. Jim Barker, whose letter back home telling his family how much the child loved the toy resulted in the non-profit organization Beanies for Baghdad being founded in May 2003. Spc. Karl JohnsonBy Spc. Karl Johnson
"The children's faces just light up when they see you," said Sgt. 1st Class Alan Certain, Company C, 490th Civil Affairs Battalion. "It's amazing to see what an effect a simple toy can have on a kid."
Civil affairs Soldiers pass out the small toys during their missions in central Iraq. Thus far, more than 150,000 of the miniature stuffed animals have been distributed throughout the war-torn nation with the help of Beanies for Baghdad, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping out in the rebuilding effort.
What started as an attempt to get one child to smile turned into a project that helps Soldiers build positive bonds with the Iraqi people as well as the children who are Iraq's future.
"This helps form the beginning of friendships between the children and the Soldiers," said Donna Ward, Beanies for Baghdad project manager. "The hope for a better tomorrow is found in the children of Iraq."
"We're hoping to see an entire new generation of Iraqis who trust that we are their friends and that we're here to help them." said Capt. Darrell Retheford, C-490th CA Batt.
According to Ward, the success of Beanies for Baghdad has just begun. "We have so much more we hope to accomplish," she said. "These little ones didn't ask to be born in the conditions they're growing up in so the program is a way we can make a difference."
"This is a small gesture we as Americans and other countries can do to help our Soldiers sew seeds of friendship. It gives children something to smile about in a war-torn land."
More information about Beanies for Baghdad and how you can help may be found at their Web site, www.beaniesforbaghdad.com.
(Spc. Karl Johnson serves with the 363rd MPAD)
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