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Servicemembers prove to be good neighbors

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Eric Summers Jr
  • 447th Air Expeditionary Group Public Affairs
SATHER AIR BASE, Iraq --  Airmen, Soldiers and Marines on Victory Base Complex demonstrated how to be good neighbors during the Rising Six's Good Neighbor Program on Area Four Jan. 29, 2010.

The program, which began in March of 2008, collects donated items such as cloths, toys, and toiletries and distributes them to the Iraqi families living in Area Four, an Iraqi camp located on the VBC.

"The Good Neighbor Program consists of volunteers [who organize] donations and [distribute] goods to the Iraqi families in Area Four by Sather Air Base," said Staff Sgt. Richard Ramsey, Rising Six Good Neighbor Program coordinator. "During the visit, US military volunteers have the opportunity to talk to the families and interact with the children."

During the last visit Jan. 29, 2010, servicemembers handed out more than $3,000 worth of donated items to the Iraqi families.

"The donations are sent two ways. Churches, organizations, schools, friends and families of Airmen and Soldiers requesting care packages or items the program is running short of supply such as school supplies and diapers," said Sergeant Ramsey. "Or organizations that donate directly to the Good Neighbor Program."

Items that can be donated are children's clothes, shoes, toiletries, diapers, children's toys, individually wrapped candy, school supplies, blankets, towels and games.

"I think it's for a good cause," said Tech. Sgt. Anna Thornton, Good Neighbor coordinator on Area Four. "They have a small market where they buy things so a lot of the items that they hand [out are] really needed such as feminine products and diapers.

They are extremely thankful and are waiting for us when we come by."

"I think it is a very kind thing for us to be involved in," said Airman 1st Class Brittany Sias, a volunteer from the 447th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron. "I know how much they appreciate our generosity and being able to spend time and interact with the Iraqi children."

"We had a pack-and-sort where we got together and made packages for children and adults. Then we had people deliver the packages to their homes while some of us stayed at the park and played soccer, duck duck goose, swung on the swings, gave piggy-back rides and pushed them in a big wagon," said Airman Sias.

"I enjoyed spending time away from base to see different parts of Iraq, different cultures and being able to interact with the Iraqi children. I would most definitely suggest everybody try it during their rotation," she said. "I just think it is a very good program for us as well as the Iraqis."

"If an organization wants to donate to the program, they should contact a military person here to see what is needed. The organization can then send the items to that person who can then get it in contact with me to bring it over to the Square K, where we would separate the items into different bins in our conex until the pack-and-sort," said Sergeant Ramsey. "If an organization would like to donate and do not have a contact here they can email me at 447rising.six@bdab.afcent.af.mil."