New clothes, toys for Afghanistan ‘tots’

Submitted by: MCB Hawaii

Story Identification #: 2005101291744

Story by Sgt. Robert M. Storm

NANGALAM, Afghanistan (Oct. 4, 2005) -- Marines and sailors of 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment handed out over 600 school outfits Oct. 3 to local village children. The battalion recently began a campaign to bring clothing, toys and school supplies to the children in the neighboring village of Nangalam.

“I got the idea because I used to run the toys-for-tots in Moscow; I did a tour over there as a Marine Security Guard,” said Sgt. Eric J. Rinda, infantryman, from Centennial, Colo. “I thought about doing it as soon as we arrived when I saw how poor the kids were.”

The Marines and sailors wrote home to parents and friends asking for help with donations. The objectives of the Marines and sailors were the same overall as those of the Toys for Tots program - to help the children throughout Nangalam feel the enjoyment of new clothes and toys. Packages arrived from all over the United States almost immediately coming from California to New Jersey.

“I even contacted the National Football League, and they sent us boxes of tote bags,” said 1st Lt. Matt D. Bartels, officer-in-charge Camp Blessing, from Minneapolis, Minn. “We have so much stuff that we’re running out of room to put it all. We’ve filled up a quadcon, and we still have more stuff coming.”

The school house that teaches over 600 students is nothing more than an empty building with 10 separate rooms. The school lacks even the most basic amenities. The children do not have heat in the winter or fans in the summer. The school does not contain any restrooms, and the rooms lack windows.

The Marines attacked the project with a passion after seeing the condition of the school.

“I have a brother that’s a school teacher in Pennsylvania, and once he talked to the principal about it, they managed to get boxes for donations put up in every school in the district,” said Rinda. “I expect to be receiving packages until the day that we leave Afghanistan.”

One of the biggest accomplishments of the drive is the new school outfits for the children. Using donations from families and a collection from the Marines and sailors of Camp Blessing, new clothes were purchased for each student.

“It was kind of a big deal when we handed out the new outfits. Many of the children haven’t had new clothes in over a year,” said Bartels.

“We thank the Marines and everyone back in United States who have given. They’ve done a great thing; it is a great help to our village children,” said Muhammad Abas, school principal.

E-mail Sgt. Robert M. Storm at robert.storm@usmc.mil