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From the desk of Councilman Angelo P. Ferrara
Town of North Hempstead
220 Plandome Road
Manhasset, NY 11030
Press Release
For Immediate Distribution
Contact: Joanna Palumbo (516) 869-7775
Manhasset, May 26, 2004
COUNCILMAN FERRARA ANNOUNCES OPERATION IRAQI CHILDREN
Councilman Angelo Ferrara is proud to announce Operation Iraqi Children, which is a program that will enable North Hempstead residents to send much-needed School Supply Kits to Iraqi children.
American soldiers passing through Iraqi villages have been horrified to see the terrible conditions of Iraqi schools. They found schools that had been severely neglected under the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein. In most cases children were packed into extremely hot, one-room buildings with no air conditioning, fans, windows, solid floors, or even toilets. Iraqi students lack even the simplest supplies that American children take for granted. Libraries and books are almost nonexistent. There are no pencils, paper, blackboards or desks.
In response to these horrible conditions, Actor Gary Sinise (Forest Gump) and author Laura Hillenbrand (Seabiscuit) recently announced the launch of Operation Iraqi Children. After allying with Federal Express Corporation, Heart to Heart International, People to People International, Sister Cities International, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation, donors no longer have to pay the high charges for shipment all the way to Iraq. Now, donors can ship to Heart to Heart's warehouse in Kansas City, where they will be inventoried, packed and palletized for international transport, and all shipping forms completed. FedEx will then take the boxes to Iraq for free!
Councilman Ferrara was impressed by this program, and believes that North Hempstead residents and organizations can do their part to show Iraqi children that America cares about them.
"I am extremely proud to support and promote this program. The Iraqi children are entitled to, and deserve adequate and quality education. These school supply-kits will provide the Iraqi children with the fundamental tools to succeed in the classroom. I applaud the efforts of the founders as well as those who have since supported and promoted this program and look forward to doing my part to ensure this programs success," stated Councilman Ferrara. To participate in this program, residents and organizations can collect "Operation Iraqi Children School Supply Kits", which must contain the following: one pair of blunt-end scissors, one 12-inch ruler with metric markings, 12 new pencils with erasers, one small pencil sharpener, one large eraser, one box of colored pencils (Crayons melt in the Iraqi summer heat!), one package of notebook paper, one composition book, three folders with inside pockets, one zippered pencil bag and one Glue Stick. Do not enclose any additional items, and be sure that all items are new and unused. Pack only the listed supplies in a backpack or in a 2-gallon sized zipper sealed plastic bag.
Councilman Ferrara is urging all North Hempstead residents, schools, businesses and civic groups to join in this extremely important effort by organizing supply drives or making monetary donations to help offset shipping costs. For more information please call Councilman Ferrara at (516) 869-7775. |