Volume 2 MARCH 2012

OPERATION CARE

EGYPTIAN HOSPITAL

WESTERN AFGHANISTAN

KOREAN HOSPITAL

THANK YOU

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HOW TO HELP 7

Operation Care Page 2

Picture of the staff from Operation Care

BAGRAM, Afghanistan- Operation Care is a non-profit, non-denominational, private charitable organization comprised of military and civilian volunteers. We are dedicated to the welfare of Soldiers at remote Forward Operating Bases, the people of Afghanistan, International Security Assistance Forces (ISAF) and, especially, to the children based at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan. Operation Care accepts donations of basic necessities including school supplies, shoes, clothing, blankets, hygiene items, nutritional supplements and similar items from a multitude of sources, and distributes humanitarian aid throughout the Afghanistan theater of operations where it is most needed. In addition, Operation Care supports US and Coalition Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen stationed at forward operation bases in remote areas by providing them with personal hygiene, comfort items, and other basic amenities which cannot be readily obtained in such isolated locations. This monthly newsletter highlights volunteer missions Operation Care completed with various organizations throughout Bagram Air Field and the local Afghanistan population. This month, Operation Care recruited additional volunteers to assist with the program including: Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and contractors. We would like to welcome the following new members: MAJ Doolittle (Army), MAJ Walchko (Army), CW2 Negron (Army) and Mr. Scott Shepherd (Contractor). Finally, we would like to give thanks to the following volunteers for their hard work and dedication in support of the program while deployed: CPL Kay (Marines), SGM Edmonson (Army), MAJ Wagstaff (Army), SSG Merehoff (Army) and PO2 Sharpton (Marines). We wish you all a safe return to the United States. Thank you for providing your continuous efforts towards Operation Care.

Third row: SMSgt Heidrick, 1SG Duvernay Second row: CSM Allen, RP2 Sharpton, CPL Howard, SMSgt Sergerson, PFC Taiwo, MAJ Blount, SSgt Rodriguez, CPL Kay, CPT Chambers

Front row: SSG Rosario, MAJ Doolittle, SGT Howell, SPC Kaaihue, SFC Ducusin, SPC Jeschow

This month, Operation Care donated over 150 bags filled with basic necessity items to the women and children near the entry control point of the Egyptian Hospital. The donations included: clothes, shoes, and gloves. Our actions helped gain trust, respect, and admiration of local Afghan people.

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SPC Kaaihue, HR Specialist; CPL Howard, HR Clerk and SGT Howell, Supply NCOIC;

were Task Force Signal volunteers at the Egyptian

Hospital.

1SG Duvernay, Task Force Signal, kindly gives to a mother and child.

Egyptian Hospital

SPC Kaaihue, HR Specialist, Task Force Signal, gives a

local national female a donation bag.

MAJ Doolittle, Information Systems Officer, CJTF-1 Task Force Poseidon contributes to

one of many children at the hospital.

Child receives donated goods.

CW2 Negron, HR Technician and MAJ Doolittle, Information Systems Officer, CJTF-1 Task Force

Poseidon are two of our new volunteers.

This month, our volunteer program donated over 150 bags to Special Operations Task Force - West supporting the welfare of local nationals. These donations help build rapport between ISAF/NATO Coalition Forces and Afghans. Building this type of relationship is one of many ways of winning the hearts and minds of the local population, which is a positive step toward the involvement of US Forces caring for the needs of others.

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A young girl from western Afghanistan, having had surgery performed on her left leg by a U.S. Army Osteopath assigned to the U.S. medical section at Camp Arena in Herat, Afghanistan,

receives gifts donated from the Lamias Foundation. The young girl was as equally fascinated by the camera as she was by the toys she received.

A U.S. Marine from Special Operations Task Force West operates a forklift carrying humanitarian assistance supplies from the Lamias Foundation. He is ground guided by a

Soldier who, along with a small group of men and women from the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force, supervise and manage air terminal operations for U.S. aircraft and supplies in

western Afghanistan.

Western Afghanistan

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Operation Care joined forces across Bagram Air Field for a humanitarian aid mission at the Korean Hospital providing over 150 bags of humanitarian assistance to Afghan men, women and children, which directly support the local population through medical care and humanitarian aid.

Korean Hospital

Chaplain Blount and SPC Webb, Task Force Signal are ready to hand out

comforting items and clothes to Afghan men.

Above and below, Trainees at the Korean Vocational Training Center graciously receive their donations.

Thanks to the kindness of our supporters.

Above, Chaplain Blount, Task Force Signal , Chaplain, is prepared to give, which will create an everlasting bond

with local nationals.

Above, SPC Webb, Task Force Signal and Mr. Scott Shepherd, Contractor, one of our newest volunteers

happily hand out over 135 bags to the local men.

Afghan child’s fist of happiness after receiving a pair of shoes along with his

donation given by Operation Care.

CPT Chambers, Task Force Signal, President, Operation Care, assists

Afghan child in putting on his new pair of shoes.

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Those who help make it happen.

Thank you!

The continuing generosity of you, our supporters, is the life blood of our organization. Without your kindness, our work in supporting the people of Afghanistan would not be possible. Most of the people we serve live in remote villages or refugee camps with limited, if any, access to even the most basic amenities of life which we have come to regard as necessities. For that reason, it is important that we focus our efforts on those things which experience tells us will most benefit our clients, while remaining sensitive to the social, cultural and political realities of war-torn Afghanistan. Please consider these guidelines as our suggestions for focused giving. Your cooperation will ensure that we will be able to distribute all of what you send to the disadvantaged Afghans for whom it was intended. Special Thanks to our donators. Name Company City State Leona Sullivan O’Brien FL The Miami Heat American Airlines Arena Miami FL Crayton McCain DAS/Nasic Dayton OH Ida Hagg Adopt-a-Platoon HQ-Soldier Support Lazano TX Mary and Robert Hess Lake Forrest IL The Military Support Group Rhinelander WI America’s Moms for Soldiers Pompano Beach FL Mercedes Jackson Moreno CA Beth Flatley Darien CT MLC Student Stores Oriskany NY Bob Williams Support the Troops, INC. Wesley Chapel FL Angels Corsicana TX Angels Supporting Your Troops Balto MD Knights Lawrence NJ Ruth Hennigan Edgewood MD Maria Grayshock Newbury Park CA Debbie Bott Cheyenne WY Chris Bayer St. Louis MO Earline Morris Boca Raton FL Julie Resheke Cheyenne WY Mary Lou Edwards Camdenton MO Helping Our Heros Abilene TX Deborah Moshier-Dunn Waterford CT Chesnek St. Louis MO Beverly A. Williams League City TX Ailleen Johnstone Temple TX Gillian Nielson El Cajon CA Deborah McCoy FPO AP Lori Barlett Sartell MN Denison Ursula Camano Island WA Susan Walton MarbleHead MA Cindy Millikm Brookiville OH John Murphy Brooklyn NY Brenda Kesterson Baltimore MD

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Those who help make it happen.

How to Help

Please help us by choosing your donations from the following list of preferred items:

All types of basic school supplies are needed. Please select from the following list: Backpacks or book bags, Pencils (wooden with erasers), Ink pens (any size or color), Composition books (bound), Coloring books, Crayons (small boxes), Rulers & Protractors, Erasers, Pencil sharpeners, Scissors (small), Glue sticks and Highlighters. Clothing: All sizes and styles are needed, men’s, women’s, and children’s – new or used, clean and in good condition, including trousers, shirts, socks, skirts, sweaters, jackets, coats, and gloves. Shoes: All sizes are needed – especially infants and children. Work boots, casual shoes, sandals, clogs, and sneakers for men, women and children are preferred. No electronics, please! Baby Formula: Liquid only, any brand. Single cans or cases are acceptable. Also, plastic baby bottles with disposable liners and nipples – no glass bottles please. Other Items & Supplies: Blankets and comforters, new or used but in good condition, are always welcome. Toys and stuffed animals: The children always appreciate receiving toys and stuffed animals. New or used, but clean and in good working order. Soccer balls and kites are perennial favorites!

Mailing address: Operation Care C/O Kenyarda A. Chambers 11th TTSB APO, AE 09354

IMPORTANT NOTE: Because of religious and cultural sensitivities, Operation Care cannot accept articles with religious themes, or articles that portray images of pigs (i.e. Porky Pig, Miss Piggy, Piglet, etc.) . For security reasons, we cannot accept shoes, toys, stuffed animals, or other articles which are battery-operated or which contain electronic devices of any type.

My goal for Operation Care is to provide Humanitarian Aid to the families of Afghanistan, including our own brothers and sisters on remote Contingency Operating Bases and Forward Operating Bases. Kenyarda A. Chambers Captain, US Army President, Operation Care

On behalf of Operation Care and the people of Afghanistan, we all thank you for your time, kindness and generosity in helping to bring happiness to the people of Afghanistan and its surrounding areas. Thank you for all that you do!

To those who make it happen