Relief packages purchased by American kids heading to Afghanistan with presidential send-off

By RON FOURNIER
AP White House Correspondent

WASHINGTON – A toothbrush and toothpaste. A knit cap. Almonds. Soap. And candy. That's just a sample of what is being shipped to Afghan children, thanks to donations from American kids.

President Bush, who urged American children to donate $1 to their Afghan counterparts, will travel to Windsor, Md., on Saturday to see the first 10,101 relief packages shipped to Afghanistan.

More than $1.5 million was raised in the dollars-for-Afghanistan campaign. The money was used to pay for the relief packages and other vital supplies.

White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said one-quarter of Afghan children do not live to their fifth birthday. One-third are orphaned; half are underfed.

The packages "will bring a little joy to children who have endured terrible hardship in Afghanistan," Fleischer said. Each box is marked in several Afghan languages "to Afghan children from America's" children.

The packages, distributed through the American Red Cross, include:

– Starburst candy

– A fuzzy, plastic ball.

– A knit hat.

– A composition notebook.

– Almonds.

– Anti-bacterial soap.

– A small plastic teddy bear.

– Two suckers.

– Two pencils and a small sharpener.

– Raisins.

– One pair of warm socks.

– Toothpaste and toothbrush.

– A brush.

– Nontoxic crayons.

Additional shipments will leave in coming days and contain supplies, including 1,500 tents and 1,658 winter jackets.

"This is all a result of the dollars that have been sent from America's children that has turned into real, deliverable help that I think the little children will really benefit from and enjoy," Fleischer said.

Bush will visit a Red Cross warehouse that has been collecting the items. Federal Express has donated a plane to fly the goods to Afghanistan.

APNP-12-06-01 1045CST