Little Orphan Ahchmed

I'm not gonna beat around the bush: Orphans in Bamian will freeze to death this winter if you don't send them some clothes, shoes and coats. It's that simple.

The orphan population in Afghanistan is epic - NPR,Afghanistan Now and thousands of other websites detail the humanitarian impact of the ongoing war here. Bamian is at a higher altitude where it is already snowing.

The yoga teacher on base is a pilot (he drops supplies to remote military camps) who has identified hundreds of kids in Bamian orphanages as needing your "used but clean children's cold-weather gear and footwear in good condition" for children ages Toddler through High School.

So, please yardsale and goodwill to your little hearts' contents. Maybe your church would like to take up a collection or maybe your child's class would like to sponsor a clothing drive. Send the clothes and coats and warm socks and shoes to:

Will Sherman

Blackwater Aviation

Bagram AFB

APO AE 09354

(FYI: You can ship a small, flat-rate priority box for $11 while a 30 pound box of clothes will cost abou $40 to ship; the max weight you can ship to an APO is 50 pounds; packages cannot exceed 130 inches combined length and girth)

An important aside may be to remind you that clothing without writing is preferred - we don't want to risk bringing the children detrimental attention by offending the extreme muslims (The Taliban).

If all of the above hasn't moved you to orchestrate a monumental effort on behalf of the Afghan Orphans then let me throw one last guilting effort your way: September 14 is my birthday. Let it sink in ... yes, that IS today! Oh my goodness - you forgot? You didn't get anything in the mail to me? Don't fret - it's all good. All I wanted, anyway, was clothes for the orphans (okay, clothes for the orphans and dark chocolate but it's still too hot in my part of AFG for you to mail dark chocolate). Isn't that convenient!?! :) And don't worry - I'm putting my money where my mouth is. I'm donating all of my shrunken clothes to the kids. Ha Ha.

Now, go have a shot of something that would violate General Order No. 1 (No Alcohol Allowed) and eat a big, gooey chocolatey dessert in my honor. Blow out a candle, make a wish on my behalf - and then get busy sending these kids some clothes.