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BAGRAM AIR BASE, Afghanistan (May 31, 2008) - Servicemembers
here show they care for the future of a free and democratic
Afghanistan and a peaceful, nurturing environment for Afghan
children by distributing donated items to local youth.
Operation Care, a Bagram-based humanitarian effort, was created
in May 2006 and strives to "win the hearts and minds of the Afghan
people, one child at a time," officials said.
Three times a week, volunteers sort and distribute numerous
items donated from all over the United States and parts of Europe
to Afghan youth.
"The volunteers give a lot of their free time," said Navy Lt.
Sara A. O'Neil, a judge advocate general officer and Operation
Care's president. "Giving their time to this organization is a very
selfless thing."
Common donations include clothing, candy, toys, shoes and school
supplies. O'Neil said the donations have affected people's
lives.
"It's amazing when you see the reactions of the kids," she said.
"They really grab onto the gifts and smile and seem to be so happy
with all they have been given."
In addition to distributing goods to the people of Afghanistan,
the operation has extended its outreach to support servicemembers
stationed at forward operation bases in remote areas by providing
them with comfort items and amenities that are not always readily
available in isolated areas.
Highly inconvenient and irregularly scheduled flights used to be
the only means of getting supplies to these areas. Now, a
travelling chaplain delivers 10 to 15 boxes per week.
Army Chaplain (Capt.) Anthony S. Kazarnowicz, known by many as
"Father K," began taking items to servicemembers when he would go
on missions to such areas.
The servicemembers receiving Father K's boxes have sometimes not
been in contact with anyone from the outside for long periods of
time, O'Neil said. Many do not even have post exchanges, she
added.
"In bringing packages to the servicemembers, we show them that
we care very much for them," Kazarnowic said. "We do not want them
to be without any of the basic necessities that we ourselves
have."
The success of the program hinges on dedicated men and women who
work behind the scenes to ensure its success, the chaplain
noted.
"To those who prepare and send packages, I say, 'Thank you very
much,'" he said. "Even more important than the contents of the
boxes is the awareness that someone back in the states took the
time to care."
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