Supplies for Afghanistan

US Army Specialist Gerardo Llamas, from El Paso, TX, got his deployment in Afghanistan stretched through the winter months and wondered if there was a way to make good use of his additional time. After seeing so many Afghans needing just the basics for their very survival(blankets, shoes, clothing, etc.), he decided to try to make a difference. He put up a post on Craigslist asking people to donate blankets, but didn't get the initial response he had hoped for. But SPC Llamas is an American soldier, not one to easily cut and run. He kept at it and eventually his Craigslist post was seen by Phyllis Zimbler Miller, a blogger, author and overall troop supporter. Phyllis not only posted the request on her own blog, "Mrs. Lieutenant: A Sharon Gold Novel," but she also contacted Spirit of America and asked if we could help.

That's what we do. Within a few hours our donors made it possible to send SPC Llamas 100 blankets and 50 backpacks full of school supplies. And that's just the beginning--by clicking on the title of this blog and visiting SPC Llamas' Spirit of America project page, you will be able to give to his effort and provide even more blankets and school supplies for the Afghan people. As SPC Llamas so aptly states, "I want to make this deployment different. I want to help and make a difference not only for Americans, but for the people of Afghanistan, whose country we are helping to rebuild."

As always, Spirit of America is proud to be associated with true patriots such as Gerardo Llamas and Phyllis Zimbler Miller. Our thanks to both, and our thanks to those of you who choose to help with this effort.

Dennis Norris