More equipment distributed to kids!

We received an email today regarding the soccer balls and equipment that we recently sent out to various US soldiers around Iraq. James, a friend of Eric's currently deployed in Iraq, was sent seven boxes of soccer balls, cleats, shin guards, jerseys, shorts, socks and other equipment to distribute.

He tells us that the equipment arrived safely and he and his men started distributing it as soon as possible.

James says "We distributed the soccer equipment through the Neighborhood Administrative Council in our area last week. A local soccer team received most of the equipment, particularly the shin guards, cleats, and group equipment, and we passed out the remainder to other local kids and teens. The Iraqi Army also helped out."

He goes on to say "We received a very positive response, and it's helped us out a lot by strengthening our relationship with the local government."

Thanks so much to James and his men for their help in distributing equipment and soccer balls to the kids of Iraq. It's so great to hear that the Iraqi Army was also helping and that it was a team effort to distribute the equipment!

Message from a soldier:

Even during this holiday season, our military are not only protecting our country, but taking time out to hand out soccer balls to the Iraqi children. Below is a quote from one of the soldiers we recently sent soccer balls to. Adam is employing the assistance of Marines to distribute the balls we sent to him.

"You guys are doing great things. Obviously you can see only so much in a picture; to see/feel these children’s faces light up when they see a soccer ball is something that cannot be conveyed in a picture or words. You have brought joy to the lives of so many that are less fortunate than us. Keep up the good work and please pass along my gratitude to my other friends at ERIC’S GOAL, INC.

Sincerely, Adam"

Adam is going to send photos once they are forwarded to him, and we will post them for you!

Many thanks to Adam and to his U. S. Marine friends as well! May you all have a safe and Merry Christmas! And may you know how much we all appreciate you today and every day!

Pics from latest ball packing party

Last week we descended on the Roles household to deflate and pack up many boxes to send out to soldiers. We had ourselves a little ball packing party and I took some pics to share. Eric's sister Jacki and cousin, Vicky and her fiance Josh all helped out Trudy and I. Even our puppy Qase helped out some! We had a lot of fun packing up the boxes and deflating those balls!

Trudy and I mailed the boxes on Saturday lunchtime; we had 10 boxes to send out. Luckily the post office wasn't very busy so we didn't inconvenience too many people with our LARGE items to mail. We did get some funny looks carting the 10 boxes into the post office!! And we still have 20 boxes to send!

Pete Noell's Fantastic Collection for Eric's Goal

Pete Noell who lives near Philadelphia, PA collected a van load of soccer balls, uniforms and equipment for the Iraqi children!
Many thanks to Pete, the Langhorne Athletic Assoc, Mapel Point Middle School, and Pete's friend at Boeing for their contributions! Check out the chart below with the listing of all of the donations collected!


Pete's son Nick, who is a Langhorne striker, helped with the collection. And his daughter Kristin wrote "Peace" in English and Arabic on the soccer balls! Our thanks to Nick & Kristin for their participation in this incredible collection!

This brings our total number of soccer balls collected for the Iraqi children to 3,552!
Many thanks to Pete, Nick & Kristin Noell, Pete's friend from Boeing, Mapel Point Middle School and the Langhorne Athletic Association for your generous donations! Our thanks to each individual for your contribution. You will brighten the lives of many Iraqi children!

Harford Community College Women's Soccer Team Collection

Our thanks to Dana Casey who organized a collection at Harford Community College, in Harford County, Maryland. We received 20 soccer balls, 4 pair of cleats, and 1 pair of shin guards!

More goodies for the Iraqi children! Thank you Dana and Harford Community College!

Towson Recreation Council - Girls Soccer Teams - Donations update!

Again we would like to thank Jennifer Bolster and the TRC Girls Soccer Teams for their huge collection soccer balls and equipment for the Iraqi kids! Here are the totals of their donations:

215 soccer balls, 9 other balls, 1 baseball glove, 4 net bags, 1 cloth bag, 16 pr. shin guards, 3 pr ankle guards, 10 pr goalie gloves, 10 cones, 8 pair cleats, 8 pennies, 5 caps, 83 t-shirts, 1 pr pants, 65 jerseys, 263 pr soccer shorts, 29 pr socks

The Iraqi children will be enjoying all of the donations that the American military will be delivering. Thank you again!!!!!!!!!

Press Release from Operation Iraqi Freedom

Pete Noell brought this article to my attention and thought we should share it on the blog. I agree! I also enjoyed many other press releases and articles about the good work our troops are doing in Iraq on the Operation Iraqi Freedom website. It is rewarding to think of all the good that will come of our combined efforts! Thank you everyone for your support!



Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20070921-08
September 21, 2007

Zafaraniyah youths get soccer balls, uniforms
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO

FORWARD OPERATING BASE LOYALTY, Iraq — Youth soccer teams in the Zafaraniyah section of eastern Baghdad have a new set of equipment and uniforms thanks to Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces.

Soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, joined with their counterparts from the 1st Brigade, 9th Iraqi Army Division to distribute uniforms and soccer balls to children on Zafaraniyah soccer teams Sept. 16. Each team received 15 sets of uniforms and three soccer balls. A 9th IA training officer, Lt. Col. Adel Salaam, made the presentation.

“By handing out this soccer equipment to the children of Zafaraniyah, we can build spirit between the children of the area,” Salaam said. “It is one of the ways to get close to the Iraqi citizens and to build a strong relationship between us.”

He noted that sports can help bridge differences.

“We consider soccer to be the best way to foster attachment to the Iraqi community,” Salaam said. “We are working on another plan to distribute stationery to the school children.”

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FOR QUERIES, CONTACT MULT-NATIONAL DIVISION - BAGHDAD PUBLIC AFFAIRS, MNDB_PAO_CIC@MND-B.ARMY.MIL This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it OR BY PHONE AT COMMERCIAL (914) 822-8174 OR IRAQNA 011-964-890-192-4674.