GARRISON -- Jenni Birker of rural Garrison recently received an e-mail from her father, Alan Kakac, stationed in Afghanistan. He was pleading for more than 300 pairs of shoes for orphans. That e-mail has inspired Birker, 23, to begin a Shoes for Kids drive to send shoes, socks, even clothing to the shoeless children who face Afghanistan's harsh winter in just three months.

Staff Sgt. Matt Matteson and Kakac, who are stationed together, have organized the effort from abroad. Kakac said the orphanage with 300 children is near his company.

"It breaks my heart -- most of their parents killed by the Taliban. There is one little girl, cute as a bug's ear, she never knew her parents. I guess she is about 5. She just comes up to up to you smiles, and your heart just about tears in half. If you wonder what we are doing here, she is reason enough. That is why there is an America. We are our brothers' keepers," e-mailed Kakac.

"The things we throw out here as garbage would be the best things ever that these children could have," said Birker. She said any kind of shoes or sandals can be used by the children, who are ages 15 and under.

She has put collection boxes out in Vinton area businesses and also is accepting monetary donations to help with freight costs. "The price on a 5-pound box has run from $22 to $25 without any insurance or priority mailing," said Birker.

Shoe boxes are located at Eden Mutual Insurance, the US Bank, Vinton Lutheran Home, Cameron Clothing and Henkle Creek Mercantile; all in Vinton. An account has been set up at the Farmers Savings Bank and Trust at 401 B. Avenue, Vinton 52349, to handle monetary donations.

Steve Meyer can be reached by e-mail at newsroom@wcfcourier.com.