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Gift opens door to school for Afghan children

John Kapusta, member of the Kiwanis Club of Independence, Ohio, packs boxes of school supplies for shipment to children in Afghanistan.

George J. Jicha Sr. has saved every e-mail his son has sent home from Afghanistan. In the exchanges, father and son share updates and send wellwishes back and forth.

But one e-mail in particular has sparked a humanitarian effort that is spreading throughout the Ohio Kiwanis family. When George Sr. asked George Jr., a medical officer with the United States Army, what was on his “wish list” of things he wanted sent from home, he wanted nothing for himself. But he did have a rather large request for someone else: the children of Afghanistan.

“My son said children cannot attend school if they do not have their own supplies,” says George, past president of the Kiwanis Club of Brooklyn, Cleveland, Ohio. “His request was for us to send pens so the military men and women could give them to the children. Of course, my family responded by sending all types of school supplies—rulers, pens, highlighters, notebooks, scissors, and crayons.”

But the family project spread new wings once George, a past lieutenant governor in the Ohio District, talked about it during a division meeting. The Independence, Ohio Kiwanis club then jumped on board, mailing more than 75 boxes. Division 24 Key Club’s, led by lieutenant governor Gabbi Matthews, sent a large carton. Immediate past Ohio District governor Cindy Champer, along with her West Toledo, Ohio club, sent several boxes, including 10 stuffed with shirts.

“The important point is how many folks in Afghanistan benefited from the kindness,” Cindy says. “It is as though we are not worlds apart, but good friends in the same town helping one another.”

George agrees. “The result of this humanitarian gesture … is that children can go to school, and they know it was made possible in a humanitarian way, with the aid of Kiwanis.”