Operation Build Iraqi Hope

Dec. 19, 2007— -- It took just one phone call from her husband in Iraq to spur Lisa Pflaumer into action.

"He asked if I would be willing to help him with a donation drive. And not just any donation drive," she recalled.

"This drive was the conduit to people over there," Lisa explained. "When we leave, we will have left behind that support and hope. It let them know that there are people worldwide who want to see their country succeed and see their people continue to have hope."

From his post near Baghdad, Lt. Col. Jack Pflaumer had seen how simple gestures, such as handing out candy, clothing or school supplies, could have an enormous impact on the lives of ordinary Iraqis -- especially children.

"They really have no decision or say about the circumstances they live in, so what we want to do is show some kind of gesture of hope," Jack said.

Lisa pointed out, "They've endured a great deal of insurgency. They've endured life under a dictator."

So 6,000 miles away in Pennsylvania, Lisa got the ball rolling, calling her effort Operation Build Iraqi Hope.

The initiative began with her going out and collecting donations from people. Her husband coordinates the effort in Iraq and reaches out to other military civil affairs units to build relationships and find opportunities to contact more schools.

The effort started small, but soon the couple's home began to resemble a warehouse as donations poured in from friends, neighbors and beyond.

Now, at any given time, there are from one to 10 people in her home sorting through donations, which continue to flow in from other Americans who hear about her project by word-of-mouth or through the media.

"It has permeated every nook and cranny of our home. We couldn't have asked for a better outpouring of support," Lisa said.

The biggest challenge with donations, said Lisa, is "finding a place to put it all." During her husband's year-long tour, she has shipped more than 10,000 pounds of clothing, toys, baby formula and other miscellaneous items to his brigade.

"It began as a military-inspired operation," she said, "and it is now one that is continued through social and community organizations here and abroad."

The latest batch was delivered by the 101st Airborne to schoolchildren in the village of Yusifiyah -- near the so-called Triangle of Death.

Jack Pflaumer believes the goodwill of the American people goes a long way for the soldiers working to build trust and lasting relationships.

"And that could lead to additional information that locals give to the soldiers -- maybe even possible insurgents or IED warnings," Jack said.

Through it all, the Pflaumers learned that generosity speaks no language and knows no bounds.

"We can feel like we accomplished more than what just the mission was all about," Lisa said.

In the faces of Iraqi children, they saw a need and there was no turning away.

To donate to this project, contact Lisa Pflaumer and Operation Build Iraqi Hope at BuildIraqiHope@yahoo.com.