Aid for Afghan Children

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The following was exerpted out of an article on CNN. All funds donated will be turned over to the Red Cross who will administer the program.

Bush Asks Young Americans to Help Afghan Children

By Patricia Wilson Reuters

WASHINGTON (Oct. 11) - U.S. President George W. Bush asked every child in America on Thursday to earn or give a dollar to help starving and malnourished children through war and winter in Afghanistan.

At the end of a televised, 45-minute news conference in the ornate White House East Room, his first in prime time, Bush made the unusual appeal, saying: "Before we leave, I want to make a special request to the children of America.

"I ask you to join in a special effort to help the children of Afghanistan. Their country has been through a great deal of war and suffering. Many children there are starving and are severely malnourished. One in three Afghan children is an orphan, almost half suffer chronic malnutrition, and we can and must help them."

"Winter is coming, and by acting today we can help the children survive," Bush added.

TO BE SENT TO WHITE HOUSE

"We are asking every child in America to earn or give a dollar that will be used to provide food and medical help for the children of Afghanistan," Bush said. "You can send your dollar in an envelope marked 'America's Fund for Afghan Children' right here to the White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C., 20509-1600."

White House counselor Karen Hughes said the idea was Bush's. He sees it as a way to bring out "the true character and compassion of America," she said.

U.S. military planes airdropped food packages into the central Asian country after the first round of strikes on Sunday, hoping they would reach hundreds of thousands of hungry Afghans as well as those fleeing the country.

"Ultimately, one of the best weapons, one of the truest weapons that we have against terrorism is to show the world the true strength of character and kindness of the American people," Bush said. "Americans are united in this fight against terrorism. We're also united in our concern for the innocent people of Afghanistan."

There are 58 million children under the age of 14 in the United States, and Bush urged them to "wash a car, do a yard for a neighbor" to raise $1 each for the fund.

LESSON IN "SERVICE AND CHARACTER"

"This is an opportunity to help others while teaching our own children a valuable lesson about service and character," he said. "I hope school classes or Boys and Girl Scout troops, other youth organizations will participate in any way to raise the money to send to the children. ... And I hope the adults will help them as well."

Calling the United States "strong, determined and generous," Bush said the country was showing compassion by delivering food and medicine to the Afghan people, who were "the victims of a repressive regime."

He recalled that before Sept. 11, when domestic issues were at the forefront of the agenda, the administration was planning an initiative called "Communities of Character."

"It was designed to help parents develop good character in their children and to strengthen the spirit of citizenship and service in our communities," Bush said. "The acts of Sept. 11 have prompted that initiative to occur on its own in ways far greater than I could have ever imagined."

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), October 14, 2001

Answers

I was so pleased when I read this transcript to my two girls the morning following the press conference. They both immediately reached into their wallets and pulled out a dollar each, no questions asked nor any comments, just simply willing to do what was good. A proud moment for Mom, let me tell you. :)

-- Nancy in Maine (paintme61@yahoo.com), October 14, 2001.

Since I don't have children I'll make this offer. If the young children of forum participants pledge $100, I will match it with a $100 check sent in to this fund. $98 to go.

-- Ken S. in WC TN (scharabo@aol.com), October 14, 2001.

make that $94 Ken ,our 2 oldest sent theirs with extra for their baby sisters.Real heart warming to see a5 yr. old and 4 yr.old trying to count money for children they do not know{kinda funny too since they have no clue what a quarter = or a dime. You get the picture.}

-- renee oneill{md.} (oneillsr@home.com), October 14, 2001.

Ken - please count the $1 our son, Patrick, mailed in Friday afternoon. He wrote a great letter - thought I would share it with you.

Dear Mr. President:

Here is my $1.00 that you asked for to use to feed the children in Afghanistan. If no kids need it there, you can use it wherever you want. Maybe Mrs. Bush can help you find a kid that needs some help.

My sister (can you believe it!) has joined the Army! She is 30 and married and has 2 little boys. But she wants to help out too. I am not sure she can make it through boot camp, but she is really smart so maybe you can use her to do something.

You are doing a very good job at being president. But be sure to rest and play sometimes too and spend time with your family. Maybe you could play Nintendo or something, it always makes me relax and have fun.

Write back sometime if you have a minute.

Sincerely,

P.S. I am a Boy Scout of America, almost Eagle, so I feel this is my duty to you and America.

-- dottie Shafer (Shaferd@msn.com), October 15, 2001.


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