For Iraqi Children—

American Soldiers Make A Plea For Shoe Donations

By Susan Coney

Newtown resident Christine Herwig is assisting her brother, Major Jeff Camp, and other American soldiers stationed in Iraq by trying to provide the poverty-stricken Iraqi children with new or gently used shoes. It is a collaborative effort on the part of Ms Herwig, her family, and family friend, Cathy Roche, to reach their goal of collecting and shipping 10,000 pairs of shoes, to be sent to Iraq by the end of October.

Ms Herwig corresponds with her brother regularly by email and agreed to gather support from the Newtown community to help the soldiers reach their goal. To date Ms Herwig and her family have collected and boxed up approximately 180 pairs of children’s shoes. Ms Herwig’s daughter Kaity, who will be a senior at Newtown High School, was so touched by her uncle’s emails and the photos of the Iraqi children he sent that she decided to enclose in each of the boxes of shoes some Beanie Babies, as an extra treat for the Iraqi children. Kaity noticed that she had close to 300 Beanie Babies collected through the years that were left unnoticed in the family’s basement; she thought that the Iraqi children would enjoy having a new toy as well as a new pair of shoes.

Ms Herwig stressed that they would like only children’s shoes in new or very good condition. She is asking anyone interested in donating shoes or money to help with the costly expense of shipping, drop off their contribution at her work place, which is the Physical Medicine & Wellness Center located at 24 Glen Road in Sandy Hook.

Ms Herwig’s brother Major Camp arrived in Iraq over the Fourth of July weekend and was immediately taken with the children of the country and their plight. He wrote a passionate letter which states:

Team,

One of the most noticeable facets of life here in Iraq is the incredible poverty. As we have been convoying around the countryside, I have noticed that almost all the Iraqi children do not have any shoes.

I am not sure what kind of impact one person can make to win the hearts and minds of people who have been inundated with hatred toward Americans, but I am willing to make an effort. I would like to appeal to each and every person who reads this email to help me to make a difference.

I would like to try and collect 10,000 pairs of donated shoes of all sizes. These shoes can be new or used. They can be any make, style or size. If you have some shoes that you, your children, your nieces or your nephews have outgrown or just plain don’t like, please put them in a box and send them to me. The box doesn’t need a note or a fancy wrapper.

I wish I could say that Uncle Sam would foot the bill for the shipping but I can’t. I hope that you will hear my plea to help the less fortunate.

Please mail them to:

Major Jeff Camp

US Army G Staff

Camp Echo Iraq

APO, AE 09332

Those interested in helping may log on to the website at www.mnd-3.com for more information and to view photos of children in need. Also those interested in dropping off donations of shoes or money, to be used for shipping the shoes, may contact Christine Herwig at 270-1875. Contributions will be accepted through the end of October.