HACE SPONSORS SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE FOR IRAQI CHILDREN

The Hourly and Classified Employees Association (HACE) will sponsor a school supply drive for Operation Iraqi Children from Aug.1-Sept.30. HACE will collect the supplies and combine them into kits that can be easily distributed by U.S. military personnel in Iraq.

Operation Iraqi Children was launched by actor Gary Sinise and Lauren Hillenbrand, author of "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" in March after speaking with soldiers in Iraq who were moved by the plight of Iraqi children and witnessing the decrepit conditions of Iraqi schools.

"Since we are an academic institution with strong international and military ties, I thought HACE should become involved and reach out beyond the campus community to help others," said Milissa Story, president of HACE and department administrator in biological sciences.

HACE staffers will combine items donated into the kits to be shipped to the organization's warehouse in Kansas City. The organization will then send the supplies to U.S. military personnel to be distributed. Monetary donations to help cover the cost of shipping will also be accepted.

Items being collected include:
Blunt end scissors
Pencils
Colored pencils (crayons melt in Iraq)
Large Erasers
Small pencil sharpeners
Notebook paper
Composition notebooks
Folders with inside pockets
Zippered pencil bags

Items can be dropped off with Story in biological sciences, Peggy Kindard in psychology, Frances McCraw in the Library, Tanya White in Rollins Hall and Linda Atkins in Koch Hall.

To volunteer your building or department as a drop off point or for more information, contact Story at 683-3594 or HACE@odu.edu. For more information on the organization, visit their Web site at www.operationiraqichildren.org.