Help Army SFC John Ingrum Help Iraqi Children

SFC Ingrum serving in Habur Gate, Iraq wants to help Iraqi kids get off the streets and back in school

Army Sergeant First Class John Ingrum is serving his 2nd tour in Iraq and has " made it [his] goal for the area surrounding Habur Gate to have a positive lasting relationship with the American Service Member." He has identified a local non-profit, AVA, which can help him reach the children of this very poor area with school supplies, clothes, toys and computers. SFC Ingrum asks, " Won’t you please help me protect the kids and help build them a better future?"

Many Iraqi children must work to help support family

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Original Request
SFC John Ingrum was introduced to SoA by Staff Sergeant Steven Gardner, our contact for the Army & Air Force Exchange Service request for Iraq, who is also serving at Habur Gate. Both of these servicemen have a heart for helping the people in this remote area. Here is SFC Ingrum's original request:

Kids that AVA and SFC Ingrum want to help
"My name is SFC John Ingrum. I am stationed in an isolated location called Habur Gate along the border of Iraq and Turkey. The community here is an extremely poor area. I am trying to support a non-profit, non-governmental organization called AVA.
AVA is an organization that helps children get out of the workforce, off the streets, and back into the schools. Their mission statement is “AVA works to improve the life of children in Zakho by providing services to individuals, families, teachers, society and children themselves.” I had lunch with the coordinator and asked her what exactly they needed and observed what they needed. Below is our request:
Clothes and shoes for children between the ages of 2-15, but all sizes will be accepted
Pens, Pencils, and spiral notebooks
Computers and educational computer software
Toys to keep the kids entertained while the parents attend the courses
Sports equipment, the favorite sport is soccer, so the need for soccer balls (200), uniforms (shirt, shorts, shin guards, cleats, socks (200))
Jump ropes or skip-its (200)
Dolls
The AVA Organization works in two ways, getting the kids back into school and off the streets and by educating the parents to allow them to earn the money they need to survive. They do this by holding seminars, giving free educational courses, and parental courses on children’s rights.
In the future AVA is also going to open an Orphanage here in Zahko (the local community) so more items like blankets, clothes, beds, ac units, towels, and hygiene items will be needed for this endeavor. These items will need to be a sustained supply to continue the success of the orphanage.
This is my second tour over here in Iraq and I do not feel I made a difference to the communities around me last time. I have made it my goal for the area surrounding Habur Gate to have a positive lasting relationship with the American Service Members. I want us to be remembered as helping them, Soldier’s that care about the quality of life for them. This will also help foster a positive relationship that will ensure continued support from the community for continued safety of our isolated site. Won’t you please help me protect the kids and help build them a better future?"

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