AM General Assists in Getting Soccer Equipment to Iraq
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- It started with a simple request from an Army captain to his father in South Bend asking that he send an old pair of his soccer cleats…and any other old equipment he could find.
Captain Brendan Mullen asked for the equipment to help Iraqi youth. Mullen and others that he is stationed with near the Turkey border have made friends and in-roads with local Iraqi teams.
The father, Pete Mullen, relayed that request at the South Gateway Rotary Club meeting in South Bend. Word soon got out and soccer equipment started pouring in…from the Michiana Soccer Association, from Notre Dame University, from South Bend schools, from local sporting goods stores and from other Rotary clubs.
Before long the South Gateway Rotary Club had an estimated 100 warm-up suits, 800 shirts, 150 goalie shirts, 300 pairs of socks, 50 shin guards, 70 pairs of shorts, 250 soccer balls, 50 soccer bags, 120 pairs of shoes, 50 ball bags and a more miscellaneous items like water bottles, flags, field markers and goal nets.
How would all this be shipped to Iraq? Mullen contacted Indiana Sen. Richard Lugar’s office. Lugar’s administrative assistant contacted AM General seeking help, knowing the company was used to shipping parts for Humvees to the Middle East. Mark Whalen, vice president of AM General’s Service Parts Logistics Operations (SPLO) said, “It seemed natural for us to get involved in this effort for international good will. Our warehouse staff worked hard to pull this off.”
Mike Bubik, director of operations for the SPLO warehouse, coordinated the AM General efforts.
“AM General was eager to support this humanitarian effort,” Bubik commented. “We basically had three or four people involved. Logan Ross, one of our warehouse employees, delivered boxes, tape and other materials to the Rotary Club for them to pack the equipment in. Logan then picked up nearly 80 boxes and brought them back to the warehouse.
“Doris Hankins, another warehouse employee, then packed the boxes into three large wooden crates.
“Carolyn Bacewic did a great job coordinating the logistical efforts for AM General to get these crates delivered literally to a doorstep in a remote part of Iraq.”
Bubik said the crates left for Iraq on November 28.
“It was a true community effort with AM General lending its expertise and generosity where it made the most sense,” Whalen added. “We were pleased to be able to participate.”
Some information for this article is from a column by Bill Moor appearing in the South Bend Tribune.
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