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Contact: Rene Abadie
Date: 2/25/05
 
Students pack items for Iraqi childrenClick on image for publication quality photo 
SOUTHEASTERN STUDENTS PACK CLOTHING FOR IRAQ – Randy Vicknair of Laplace and Jamie Guilbeau of Belle Chasse, members of Southeastern Louisiana State University’s Gamma Beta Phi honorary and service organization, pack shoes and socks bound for Iraq while the organization’s co-advisor Jackie Dale Thomas makes a record of the items. The student organization coordinated a regional drive to collect socks and shoes for Iraqi children.
SOUTHEASTERN’S SOCK & SHOE COLLECTION FOR IRAQ CONCLUDES
     HAMMOND --  With three rooms in the student union bulging with donations, Southeastern Louisiana University’s student-organized collection of socks and shoes for Iraqi children is winding down.
     Members of Southeastern’s honor and service organization Gamma Beta Phi are beaming with pride as a small project took a life of its own and grew to an enthusiastic region-wide effort. Named “Ben’s Kicks for Kids” for Southeastern and Gamma Beta Phi alumnus Sgt. 1st Class Ben Necaise of St. Francisville who is stationed in Baghdad, the campaign resulted in thousands of items being donated.
     Necaise, who is with Bravo Company of the Army National Guard’s 1088th Engineer Battalion, 256th Brigade Combat Team, was touched by the sight of barefoot children dealing with the cold Iraq weather. His wife Ashley and mother-in-law Linda Ryan, a Southeastern horticulture instructor, contacted friends at Southeastern, and the drive caught on with students and the general public.
     The socks and shoes will be forwarded to Baghdad next week, Gamma Beta Phi co-advisor Jackie Dale Thomas told members of the University of Louisiana Board of Supervisors at its meeting Friday.
     “We expected this to be a typical drive, wherein our members would donate items and we would send a few packages out,” Thomas said. “With publicity, interest in the project snowballed, with inquiries coming from throughout the region. We established Southeastern’s St. Tammany Center in Mandeville and our nursing center in Baton Rouge as drop-off points. Now we literally have thousands of shoes and socks overflowing in our rooms and offices.”
     Thomas said the organization has also received more than $1,500 in cash to pay for shipping, with donations coming from Southeastern’s Student Government Association and other student organizations, area churches and individuals and the St. Bernard Rotary Club.
     “We’re thrilled at the response, not just from our students but also from our area communities,” said Gamma Beta Phi President Chris Bech, a graduate student from Slidell. “I think people were touched by the thought of children having to live in a combat zone without even basic clothing. We’re glad we are able to do a small part in helping these kids.”
     “I am very proud of the leadership Gamma Beta Phi showed in promoting this drive and the support of our students in helping make this project such a success,” said Southeastern President Randy Moffett. “We cultivate a family atmosphere at Southeastern and, like any family, our students are quick to respond when there is a call for help.”