A young Iraqi girl holds her new Beanie Baby, donated by children of North Hills Christian School in Salisbury, N.C. Soldiers of Company D, 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, distributed the toys to children from the Oman and Nassir schools in al Buaytha, March 24. Photo by 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs.

Soldiers of Company D, 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, distributed 400 Beanie Babies to children at the Oman and Nassir schools. Students of North Hills Christian School in Salisbury, N.C., collected and sent the toys as a gift.

“It is important that we do anything we can to make the children happy and help them, because the children are the future,” said Capt. Joseph Inge, a native of Richmond, Va., commander of Company D.

First Lt. Kirk Steiner, Company D fire support officer, gave his mother, who teaches at the school, credit for organizing the event.

“Most of these children have only seen their country during a time of war. It was great to be able to give them a small gift and see the smiles on their faces,” said Steiner, a native of Salisbury, N.C.