Recruiting toys for Iraqis

AMERICAN FORK — War is hell. Especially for children.

Bradley Corry hopes his Eagle Scout project will spread a little cheer even on the bleakest day to the children in wartorn Iraq.

The 14-year-old got the idea from his mother, Michelle, who saw a TV news story about the 82nd Medical Company — also known as the "Toy Bombers."

"A lot of people make a volleyball court or fix a playground," Corry said. "But here we're pretty well off. People in Iraq don't have anything."

Corry's idea is to collect soft and unbreakable toys that can be shipped to Iraq and then, with the aid of American

soldiers who have been dubbed the Toy Bombers, the toys will be dropped from a helicopter to Iraqi children.

One of the soldiers, Utahn Jared Kimber, pilots a Black Hawk helicopter in the 82nd. On his return trips, the military has agreed to allow him to drop candy, gum and toys to the Iraqi children.

The Corry family contacted Cathy Kimber, Jared Kimber's mother, who has helped organize the Toy Bombers movement.

So far, Bradley Corry has only been able to place three boxes in Utah Valley stores to collect toys and other items. Many store owners and managers have told them company policy prohibits such collection boxes.

Kelli Campbell, the office manager at American Fork Chiropractic, was intrigued by Bradley when he first came in to drop off a box.

When she found out what he wanted to do, she allowed him to leave one of the boxes. But the thought of collecting toys for Iraqi children stuck with her throughout the weekend.

"I walked into my grandson's bedroom, and there are toys everywhere. And I'm thinking of all those poor children in Iraq," Campbell said. "It just touched me."

With that thought in mind, Campbell spent her weekend going to garage sales, trying to find stuffed animals and toys to contribute to the project.

Bradley Corry hopes to have all this toys boxed and ready to ship to the 82nd Medical Company by July 30.

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E-mail: rhugh@desnews.com