Photo By Staff Sgt. Kimberly Johnson | Lt. Col. Vincent Barnhart (left), division surgeon with 1st Armored Division, United...... read more read more
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BAGHDAD--“So much of what the Army is geared toward is targeting or improving the perception [of] or reinforcing the Government of Iraq to their people, but for a few hours, on behalf of the American people, we blessed the lives of the Iraqi kids.”
Those words from Lt. Col. Vincent Barnhart, division surgeon with 1st Armored Division, United States Division – Center, and an Edenville, Pa., native, describe the last three times his section has helped deliver children’s wheelchairs to the children of Iraq.
“USD-C saw an opportunity where they could help,” said Brad Blauser, founder of the nonprofit organization Wheelchairs for Iraqi Kids, and a Dallas native. “USD-C stepped in and assisted in running the wheelchair [distribution] event. After the first effort with USD-C, more volunteers came to the next event, held at the Liberty Field House on Camp Liberty, (Iraq).”
Barnhart said, the leadership of 1st Armd. Div. sees the wheelchair program as an opportunity to do great things for the Iraqi population. It is also an opportunity to rebuild the trust between the Iraqi Security Forces and the Iraqi people.
“[The 1st Armd. Div.] can help reinforce the Iraqi Police and the Iraqi Army’s standing with their citizens through the wheelchair events, as they take the lead on this outreach program,” he said. “The Iraqi children all come carried in. And they leave with mobility options. They go home in the wheelchairs they need, and we are able to influence these areas positively by building rapport between the IP, the IA and their local communities.”
The division surgeon’s section has adopted the wheelchair charity as one of their main outreach efforts. His staff members are trained by Blauser on how to properly assemble and fit the wheelchairs to the needs of the children, Barnhart said.
Most Iraqi parents do not have access to the specialty care they want for their children. They do not have the capacity to get quality medical wheelchairs like the ones Wheelchairs for Iraqi Kids delivers, Barnhart said.
“The greatest rewards are the kids,” Barnhart said. “The kids are the hope and the future of Iraq. Not just in the standard way kids are always going to be the future, but if we can influence these children positively, they will be the generation [whose] ideals change [life] for the better.”
The future of the wheelchair program is bright. There is a nearly finished factory, where Army units can use their Commanders’ Emergency Relief Program funds to buy wheelchairs directly from the factory instead of having them shipped from the U.S.
Blauser said he has made himself available as the subject matter expert on fitting the wheelchairs to the specific needs of the children who receive them.
“I can train the troops on how the wheelchairs work and how to adjust them,” he said. “I can go down to the Ministry of Health and rehabilitation centers and teach those people how to adjust wheelchairs, too.”
Blauser said he hopes the Iraqi Ministry of Health will join in on the charity effort and buy wheelchairs for the estimated 2.25 million Iraqi children who still need wheelchairs.
“It is great to have USD-C involved and supporting so directly,” Blauser said. “Now they’re wrapped around me and are trying to support me in every way possible.”
According to the organization’s website, 834 wheelchairs, retail valued at $2.5 million, have been distributed since the program began in August 2005.
| Date Taken: | 08.24.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 08.24.2010 08:59 |
| Story ID: | 55096 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 103 |
| Downloads: | 8 |
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