BAGHDAD -- Throughout this most recent deployment to Iraq, the families and employers of West Virginia National Guard soldiers have been making contributions toward a huge campaign to help the less advantaged in Iraq.

School supplies to include back packs, stickers, glue, tape, pens, paper and pencils have been pouring in since soldiers of the 150th Armored Reconnaissance Squadron, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team requested aid when they arrived here in May.

With the first of many deliveries, the soldiers began distributing supplies collected during the "Three P's for Peace" campaign to children in Yusifiyah, south of Baghdad, on Oct. 15.

The campaign got its name when the squadron's executive officer, Maj. Chris Selvey, and members of his church wanted to focus on the essential items needed for school: pens, paper and pencils.

"When I read that Iraqi kids were not allowed to attend school without supplies, I took it personal and thought, 'What if that were my son,'"Selvey said. "Kathy Arritt from my church (Fayetteville Baptist Church in Fayetteville, W.Va.) spearheaded the campaign and took it to another level.

"It was incorporated into the vacation Bible school class where kids were asked to bring in a pack of pencils or paper to help Iraqi kids just like them," Selvey said.

The squadron's command sent letters to troops asking their family and friends to contribute to the campaign. Squadron chaplain, Capt. Mike Allen, of Parkersburg, W.Va., stored and organized the supplies, which filled up several offices and two rail cars until soldiers were able to begin distributing the supplies.

Several churches donated supplies. Members of Allen's church, Grace Gospel Baptist, along with members of 2nd Lt. James Coffey's church, Teays Valley Missionary Baptist located in Hurricane, W.Va, donated large amounts of supplies.

"My church youth group sent five priority boxes of colored pencils," Coffey said.

"Crayons melt so that's why they focused on pencils instead. They sent probably a thousand dollars worth of pencils," he said.

The civil affairs unit attached to 30th HBCT received several bins of book bags from Humanitarian Assistance, a government sponsored program that distributes supplies to CA teams to cover people's basic needs: food, water and shelter.

Water filters, blankets and heaters were also donated from this fund and will be next in line for the team to distribute.

"We pulled out 150 back packs for the first few drops, and we still have several bins of supplies to go," said 1st Lt. Adam Stickley, of Leeton, Mo.

"All the back packs are stuffed with school supplies, puzzle books, a soccer ball or a doll."

Literacy kits containing Arabic lesson plans for teachers and booklets for students were donated by the U.S. Agency of International Development. These kits are grade specific and designed for grades first through third.

Arabic coloring books were also among the items donated from the people of West Virginia.

"We are trying to encourage those who are in school to stay in school," Stickley said. "Most of the classes are cramped with students who don't have reading and writing materials.

"Pre-school is not as accessible as primary school and a lot of the kids from our area of operations don't make it through to high school. They start to weed out after primary to work on farms," he added.

Students of Paden City Elementary School, W.Va. sent their first shipment of supplies Sept. 11. The students were encouraged to help the children of Iraq become empowered through education while helping create good relationships between the American troops and the Iraqi families they encounter.

"My wife has already asked me to get contact information from our replacements so they can continue to send supplies after we leave," Allen said.

"The chaplain sent thank you notes to everybody that sent something," Selvey said. "Those who didn't send supplies helped in other ways. The Fayetteville Fire Department donated postage fees to send supplies, and we have received thousands and thousands of items making this campaign a huge success."

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