A Request from Senior Airman Erica Leon

To whom it may concern:

My name is Erica Leon, and I am a Senior Airman (SrA) in the United States Air Force, based at Whiteman AFB, currently deployed to Joint Base Balad, Iraq.

Since being deployed to Iraq, I have had the honor of participating in a monthly event called Iraqi Kid’s Day.  At this event, local children are brought onto the base, and they participate in crafts, games, and sports with the troops.  Well, it has become VERY evident that Iraqi children LOVE Soccer!   However, the families of these children are very, very poor and cannot afford to purchase soccer balls.

This is where I would like your help.  My family and I will pay for shipping where need be – I am asking people/business/organizations to donate soccer balls.  My goal is to put a soccer ball in the hands of every child who comes for Iraqi Kid’s Day, not only while I am still in Iraq, but long after I leave… and also for the Troops to have for when they go outside the wire.   It is important for those on patrol to have something to hand the children in the towns to show we aren’t there just as “the big scary people with guns”. 

You can read a little bit about me and some of the other areas where I have strived to make an impact in the past here:  .

Please let me know if you can assist in any way in bringing some sunshine into the lives of these children by donating one or more soccer balls…  Thank you for your support!

SrA  Erica M. Leon

United States Air Force

532 ESFS/S1

APO AE 09315          

Soccer balls may be shipped directly to SrA Leon or dropped off at 2595 Fairmont Park Court in Dacula. More information is available on the Sunshine for Soccer Facebook page. See video for a message from David Leon, Erica's brother.

Do you have a friend or loved one currently serving in the armed forces? Would you be willing to give Dacula residents a chance to show support for these servicemen and women by telling us their story? Please email kristi.reed@patch.com with your service member's name, photograph and any information you would like to share with our community.