Local effort designed to help Iraqi children
‘Pencils for Peace’ delivers needed supplies to school students
By William Lundquist
Argus Observer
Thursday, January 24, 2008 10:29 AM PST
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| An unidentified American Army officer hands out crayons and other school supplies in Iraq. A local program, dubbed ‘Pencils for Peace,’ is gaining steam. Individuals who would like to donate to the program that helps Iraq school children can contact Ron Verini at (541) 881-8881. |
Ontario — Pencils for Peace, a new Ontario organization, aims to help win the hearts and minds of Iraqis, and thereby save American lives, by sending pencils, pens, notebooks and other school supplies to Ramadi, Iraq.
Local veterans advocate Ron Verini briefed the Ontario City Council on the program Tuesday night and promptly obtained donations from Mayor Joe Dominick and Ontario City Councilmember Susann Mills.
“This is actually going to save the lives of some of our soldiers,” Verini told the council members.
He explained that the students receiving the supplies can help convince their parents to support the American cause and give information about bombs planted to blow up American convoys.
“It will be a tremendous help for soldiers to connect with the people, to help win hearts and minds. It could shorten the war,” he said.
Verini said Wednesday the program was started by American soldier David Dewey, who asked his friends and family for care packages to help the villagers in Iraq. Dewey’s mother Gaylene Dewey, Verini said, is now spearheading the program in the Treasure Valley, along with Doug Dean and Charlene Pelland, president of the recently chartered American Legion Auxiliary Unit 37 in Ontario.
When David Dewey left Iraq, Verini said, U.S. Army Maj. Kelly Dickerson, in Camp Ramadi, Iraq, took over the program, making pleas via e-mail for everything from office supplies to Girl Scout cookies. Verini said Dickerson can personally attest to the life-saving capabilities of Thin Mint cookies. He said Dickerson told him that the gift of a package of Thin Mints led to a conversation where he learned that an explosive device had been set up to blow up his convoy.
The idea for school supplies, Verini said, was born when Jallel, a little girl in Ramadi with an 8-inch explosive wound in her stomach and a 4-inch wound on her arm, asked an American soldier for a pencil so she could write to her doctor.
Verini said the American government rebuilds schools it has destroyed in the fighting and even provides desks, but it does not provide pencils, pens or other basic school supplies.
“This can turn a child’s life around,” Verini said, “And with education, that child will have the opportunity to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem. I think we’re going to save the lives of many soldiers.”
Verini said needed supplies include pens, pencils, color pencils (not crayons because they melt in Iraq), erasers, pencil sharpeners, small scissors, rulers, chalk, chalkboard erasers, paper, composition books and small paper folders (not heavy binders).
Those wishing to donate school supplies may call Verini at (541) 881-8881 or Pelland at (541) 889-5121, or send them to Pencils for Peace, PO Box 263, Ontario OR 97914. Verini said cash donations are also needed to pay for shipping, which costs more than $8 a box. Checks may be made out to the American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 67. Verini said Pencils for Peace is an independent organization, but the auxiliary has volunteered to process the checks through its account. Pencils for Peace also has a new e-mail account: pencilsforpeace@q.com.
“The Chamber has been 100 percent behind us,” Verini said of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. He said the chamber has run articles for him in its monthly newsletter. He said Malheur County Sheriff Andy Bentz has already donated pencils and Blackaby Insurance donated notebooks. Verini said it does not matter if the supplies have logos or slogans on them.
“The community is really getting behind this,” he said. “But this is only the beginning.”
Verini said he gave a talk on the project at an American Legion conference in Lebanon, Ore., and an article on it may be run in the legion’s national magazine. He said he has been in contact with a Fruitland High School teacher who is arranging a project to gather supplies. Pelland, he said, has contacted the local Future Farmers of America and 4-H Club.
So far, Verini said, Pencils for Peace has identified 40 schools in the Ramadi area that need help. He hopes the program will catch on nationally and will eventually supply many more schools throughout Iraq and even Afghanistan.
