The American people are just great.

One of the side effects of the shift of news media attention from Iraq towards Afghanistan seems to be that more folks back home are looking into our situation here. Newspaper coverage of Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix, including coverage in The Daily Gazette, also seems to be helping to inform people at home what is happening and what we are doing. And, increasingly, they want to help. That is so American.

Over here, we have soldiers who can't wait to participate in the next humanitarian support mission. That includes our hard-charging infantry troops assigned to our Security Force Battalion as well as members of the support team and the various headquarters sections.

They have asked their families at home to send over school supplies, childen's clothing and other personal items. The donation materials are kept in a large steel connex (storage container) where they are sorted and then stored for the next mission. The inventory turns over quickly, but fortunately, packages of supplies come in each day.

The poverty that is here is difficult if not impossible to comprehend. The simplest of items are eagerly welcomed by the people, and we give out everything that is appropriate.

In some communities, our family readiness groups have developed partnerships with area schools, businesses and civic groups and are holding special drives. In an earlier blog entry I wrote about the special effort by sixth-grade students at Sand Creek Middle School to send us school supplies in cooperation with the family program office at the Latham state headquarters.

I know we have groups in Syracuse, Utica and other locations working on special drives right now, and I am sure there are more. These groups and interested individuals at home are collecting materials, creating care packages and sending them to us by U.S. mail.

Frequently asked questions we get here are “How can we help?" and "What can we send?” We can’t take cash or anything that has a religious message or icon, but for those who are interested, here is a list of things that are needed and appreciated.

School supplies, including pads of paper, pens, markers, student backpacks and bound notebooks.

Clothing, including new children’s’ shirts, trousers and footwear, new little girl dresses and new winter coats and gloves.

Infant care items, including diapers, formula, baby powder, baby wipes and small blankets.

Personal items, such as first aid kits, pump soap, combs, small mirrors and nail clippers.

This is not a complete list, but it covers popular items. If you want to send something, you can send them to me:

Paul Fanning

HHC 27th BCT

Camp Phoenix

APO AE 09320

Lt. Col. Fanning is submitting photos to accompany this blog in a gallery, "Pictures from the Front." To view the most recent photos, which accompany this blog entry, click here. To view the entire gallery, click here.