Empty Backpack Campaign

Here is a repeat post of our Empty Packpack Campaign. We're still trying to get a website up and running, but in the mean time, here is the information and you can start spreading the word and mailing backpacks. Thanks for your support!
Community During our outing to Kabul U the other day, we passed by a local elementary school. Scott had pointed out that the NMAA staff delivered 50 backpacks with school supplies to the school last October. On that day, they were all very excited to be able to deliver these backpacks and supplies that had been donated by family and friends back in the states. After some coordination with the head mistress of the school, they showed up. They showed up and realized that what they had brought was totally inadequate. It turns out that the school had over 4000 students – 4 groups of 1000 students at a time. The head mistress, who had actually been to the U.S. and spoke a little English, had picked 50 of the youngest pupils to receive the backpacks. Luckily the NMAA staff had some other things to give to the other students there that day. The school is run mostly out of tents – some of the tents have desks, some do not. Some of the tents have chalkboards, some do not. All of the tents have kids and very little else. Many of you have written and asked if there was something you could do to help out what it is I’m doing here. So, it got me to thinking that why couldn’t we try to set up something to help an even larger group of these students? So, coming very soon, be ready to help out with the Colorado to Kabul Kids, “Empty Backpack Campaign.” Most of us are familiar with the “Empty Stocking Campaigns” around the holidays. The school year here begins in April. The goal is to try and get as many backpacks as possible loaded with supplies to the kids at this school by the time school starts. Stay tuned for further details, but if you want to jump the gun to help - please contact Natalie, or if you really want to jump the gun even more, we’re looking for kids’ backpacks loaded with ONLY the following items:

• One pair of blunt-end scissors
  
• One 12-inch ruler with metric markings
  
• 12 new pencils with erasers
  
• One small pencil sharpener
  
• One large eraser
  
• One box of colored pencils (crayons melt in the summer heat!)
  
• One package of lined notebook paper
  
• One composition book
  
• Three folders with inside pockets
  
• One ink pen (apparently these are a status symbol for kids - maybe one of those that has the four different colors in one pen)
  
• One zippered pencil bag
  
• One non-religious coloring book
  
• One kids' book in English (simple sentences and words – they are taught some English)
  
• One picture of kid/organization/school that donated (optional)
  
• One item of candy
  

Of course, they need just about everything at the school, so if you want to send only part of the supplies or just a backpack, or whatever, it is all appreciated and nothing will go to waste. It seems like this could be a really good drive for American school children – kids helping kids. You can send all donations to the following address:

Douglas Morris
NMAA – KAIA
APO AE 09354

A more informational announcement is forthcoming, but again, please contact Natalie (coloradotokabulkids@gmail.com) if you'd like to help out - she can use all the help she can get. Thanks in advance for your support!