BAGHDAD –
The 229th Military Police Company took the first steps in a humanitarian mission to assist a grade school Dec. 23 in the Furat neighborhood of Baghdad. Capt. David Sutton, commander of the 229th MP Company stated that this is an important mission because the children at this elementary school are from our immediate area, and that it is important to have a positive impact on the children and the community.
Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Jones, who serves in the operations section of the 229th MP Company, worked on the mission by measuring broken, open, and unscreened windows in the administrative buildings and the two classroom buildings, so that new windows can be installed. Jones stated the old windows that were broken will be removed for the safety of the children and replaced with new windows with plexi-glass, to help keep the cool area and wet weather out of the classrooms and offices.
Within several weeks, the 229th Soldiers will return to the school to install windows to the administrative building. The work on this building will help the Soldiers set a time line on how long it will take to complete the other two remaining buildings containing the classrooms, Jones said.
Aside from the carpentry work, Soldiers in the unit also met 420 schoolchildren and delivered 390 ziplock care packages containing personal hygiene items, some treats and school supplies.