Twenty-nine-year-old Jeremy Petoskey's greatest fear is that his kids won't know him when he gets home. He's a soldier who has been assigned to some very hazardous duty in Iraq, and his three children are too young to really understand why daddy isn't home every night. His wife keeps in touch with him by e-mail and digital photography, but the children, well, it just isn't the same.

Jeremy was "adopted" by an employee at Southeast Missouri State University--Cindy Raines. She has kept in touch with him regularly for nearly two years, and sent him an occasional care package even though he never asked her to do so. In July, Jeremy made his first request of Cindy. He wanted to know if she could find a way to send him some school supplies for the children in Iraq. All the schools in Jeremy's deployment area of Ramadi have been bombed--deliberately, and not by U.S. troops. Jeremy's unit is rebuilding the schools so  children will have an opportunity to learn and grow once again. But when the schools opened, there would be no supplies, because very little is available in Iraq. So, Jeremy asked for Cindy's help.

Cindy turned to her church for assistance, and the local paper ran an article about her quest to help this soldier, so far from home, trying to help children. Some help came, but not enough. When Cindy happened to mention her project to a Phi Kappa Phi Chapter #260 member, she got the help she was looking for. Chapter 260 members donated new and gently used supplies by the bag and box, to be shipped to Iraq. The Chapter also authorized $250 to reimburse Cindy for the some of the cost of shipping all the supplies she received. In all, 650 pounds of supplies have been shipped to Iraq and distributed among the six schools in Ramadi. Below is Jeremy's e-mail thanking Cindy and all who assisted her for sending the supplies.

Dear Cindy,
I want to thank you again for all your effort in helping my unit with our project here in Ramadi. All the supplies you sent were very much appreciated by the local children and the teachers. You even established a new course in the schools that the children don't get a chance to have until they reach the Universities...Arts and Crafts. Most of the people had never seen glue before and asked if it was lip balm.

All the supplies were given out to each headmaster (principle) of the six schools in the area. There were enough supplies for at least one semester for each school. I want to thank everyone who contributed to this cause. You have helped make this deployment worth-while.

Thank you again for all the dedication and support you have shown. As soon as I get all the pictures together, I will send them out to you.

We are preparing for our re-deployment back to the states. I ask that you don't send any more boxes though...as there is not enough time left for us to pass them out. But thank you for your support. If there is ever anything I can do to show my admiration and support for you, please let me know. If there is anything else you would like from me, don't hesitate to ask. Thank you again and may God Bless you all!!!
Your Friend,
Jeremy

Jeremy has made arrangements with the unit replacing his to distribute any additional supplies received and not distributed before he returns to the States.

Schools across Iraq are having the very same problem--nice building, no supplies. Other chapters who wish to get involved in this very worthwhile literacy project may wish to visit the Web site: http://www.mysoldier.com/. "My ABCs" is a program initiated and intended to help volunteers prepare care packages of school supplies for schools in Iraq. The Web site has information on this program and how a school in Iraq can be adopted by an individual or group. For example, the Southeast Phi Kappa Phi Chapter became involved initially on a personal basis because Cindy Raines, an employee at Southeast, first became involved and then enlisted the Chapter. Whether you are a large chapter or a small one, an individual or a group, there are lots of schools that need help and lots of ways to help with supplies. Love of Learning is international!

Jeremy poses with Iraqi children.		The welcome celebraton at the school in Iraq.