BASRAH, Iraq - While working to revitalize a community in southern Iraq, a platoon of soldiers came in contact with local children who have none of the things westerners take for granted.

So a platoon leader made a phone call to make a difference.

Just over 5 months ago, soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 377th Field Artillery Regiment, 17th Fires Brigade, left Fort Lewis for a year long deployment to Iraq.

Their mission is to work with the Iraqi police and military to rebuild infrastructure, create a safe environment and improve relations with Iraqi communities.

Noticing almost immediately the conditions in which the village children live and play, 2nd Platoon, B Battery soldiers agreed that creating a safe environment meant something more.

The platoon enlisted the help of Jennine Griffo, wife of 1st Lt. Nicholas Griffo (the author of this story), to organize a toy and school supply drive within the Washington State Auditor's Office for the local Iraqi children.

They felt this would be an opportunity for all of them to reach out and make a difference in the children's lives.

In the span of a month, more than 60 pounds of school supplies and toys were collected, as well as enough money to ship the supplies.

There were art supplies, coloring books, crayons, stuffed animals, baby toys and general school supplies. The platoon also received 15 soccer balls donated by Wembley Soccer Shop.

Over the course of a few weeks the, soldiers of B Battery handed out the supplies to various villages in the Basrah region, including a small village by the name of Abu Skeer.

The village is in one of the areas 2nd Plt. patrols on a regular basis. They have been working with a civil affairs team there to build a soccer field and repair the water plant.

The villagers, in Abu Skeer and other towns in the area that B Battery patrols, were very grateful for all the items that were donated to them and invited the soldiers to visit the area often.

The smiles on the children's faces when they received something as small as a stuffed bear will be a lasting image in the minds of the soldiers.

And the generosity and compassion of the soldiers, State Auditor's Office and all the people who donated items to the toy drive, have greatly improved the relations and trust with the local Iraqi villagers in the Basrah region.

Washington State Auditor Brian Sonntag was recently presented certificates of appreciation from the 1st Bn., 377th FAR and the 17th FB by Jennie Griffo at the state capital in Washington in recognition of the help and support given.