Long-range giving Crestwood Inn tenants pitch in to donate educational kits for Iraqi children

Published on Saturday, March 31, 2007 7:53 PM MDT

After reading in the religious magazine "Guideposts" of the need for educational supplies in Iraq, Crestwood Inn tenants decided they could do their share to help cure the problem.

In about one month's time, tenants compiled 60 kits of school supplies. The kits will soon be sent to Iraqi children through the program Operation Iraqi Children. Krause says the kits go directly to servicemen, and they distribute them to the children.

Crestwood Inn tenant Jean Krause read the magazine article that described actor Gary Sinise's experiences while entertaining in Iraq.

Krause said that Sinise said there were three to four children per desk and each shared just the final inches of a pencil.

"I felt like it was a good thing to do," Krause said.

She started to distribute fliers among other Crestwood Inn tenants to start the campaign.

"One lady said it gives us something to think about besides ourselves," Krause said. "There were a lot of enthusiastic remarks."

Items purchased for the campaign included scissors, rulers, pencils, pencil sharpeners, erasers, colored pencils, notebook paper, composition paper, folders and pencil bags.

"When we started, I think the stores realized something was going on and they ordered some things in," Krause said. She added that prices the group found were less here than Billings and just as inexpensive as Williston, N.D.

Krause said a lot of Crestwood Inn tenants helped with the project, especially Lola Strasheim, Arlene Baumeister and MaryAnne Minch.

"We're going to have about 60 kits when we're done," Krause said. "We had a little outside help, but it mostly came from here."

Sinise, who is known for his roles in "Forrest Gump" and "Apollo 13," said in a promotion for the program, "Every time a box of school supplies is delivered by our troops it will be another small victory for them in helping to win the hearts and minds of Iraqis. It is a beautiful way to begin a relationship with the future leaders of Iraq. They have been forgotten for so long. Now there is a chance for them."

To find out more about the program, see www.operationiraqichildren.org.

editor@sidneyherald.com

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