News release Public Information Office  SLU 10880   Hammond, LA 70402   phone: 985-549-2341   fax: 985-549-2061 publicinfo@selu.edu Spring 2004 news releases Public Information home News archive Contact: Christina Chapple Date: 2/4/05   UPDATE: ST. TAMMANY, BATON ROUGE DROP OFF SITES SOUTHEASTERN STUDENTS COLLECTING SOCKS, SHOES FOR IRAQI CHILDREN      HAMMOND – In response to an appeal from a Southeastern Louisiana University alumnus stationed in Iraq, a Southeastern student organization is organizing a campaign to collect socks and shoes for Iraqi children.      Gamma Beta Phi is calling their collection drive, scheduled for Feb. 9-23, “Ben’s Kicks for Kids.” “Ben” is Sgt. 1st Class Ben Necaise of St. Francisville, a 2000 Southeastern graduate and a former member of the honor and service society, one of Southeastern’s largest and most active student organizations. A 13-year veteran of the Louisiana National Guard, Necaise taught history at West Feliciana High School before being deployed last October.      Stationed in Baghdad with Bravo Company of the Army National Guard's 1088th Engineer Battalion, 256th Brigade Combat Team, he has been touched by the plight of Iraqi children.       “Ben’s heart is really heavy for the children over there,” said his mother-in-law, Southeastern horticulture instructor Linda Ryan of Ponchatoula. “The children have no shoes, jackets or sweaters, and it gets down into the 30s almost every night.”      “He sees a lot of kids – and we have a three year old,” said his wife, Ashley. “Ben is as tough as nails, but he’s a big old teddy bear at heart.”      Ryan said she and her daughter have been buying shoes at local second hand outlets such as Good Will and shipping them to Iraq. Ashley Necaise got the idea of asking her husband’s Southeastern contacts to help expand their personal efforts after several telephone conversations with her husband.       “After we talked about three times, it just dawned on me that we’ve got shoes all over the place,” she said. “So, why not do this?      “We have already sent some toys and other trinkets. Ben said the kids get the biggest smiles when they are given something,” she added.      An email from Ryan to Jackie Dale Thomas, co-advisor of Gamma Beta Phi and director of Leadership Development/Student Activities, got the campaign going on campus.       Not only was Gamma Beta Phi enthusiastic about heading the campaign, but other student groups such as the Dream Team and the ExCEL Leadership Program are getting involved as well, Thomas said.      She said socks and shoes can be brought to her office, room 110 in the War Memorial Student Union, from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays.      “The shoes can be any size or style,” Thomas said. “Used shoes are welcome, if they are in good shape. Socks should be new and can be of any size or variety.”      Thomas said she admires Necaise for his concern, especially in light of the recent deaths among his fellow Louisiana guardsmen.       “At a time when he could be really unhappy with the Iraqi people, he has chosen to take a higher road,” Thomas said. “He knows that reaching out will help the children see that American soldiers are there to help.”      For additional information, contact Thomas at 985-549-2233.