Students carry box of books to U-Haul truck. Courtesy photo

Students, faculty and community members help load books into U-Haul truck. Photo by Morrie Pongratz

EDUCATION News: 

A sendoff celebration for the African Library Project was held Tuesday, Nov. 28 in the Sullivan field parking lot. 

A U-Haul truck decorated with balloons and a sign for the African Library Project was loaded by kids of all ages from all the schools in Los Alamos with boxes of books headed to Kenya, Africa, to make 12 school libraries. In all, 194 boxes carrying 14,400 books were packed amidst cheering and shouting from the many kids, parents, LAPS Superintendent Kurt Steinhaus, and other community members in attendance, including many members of the local Kiwanis Club who have been big supporters of the project.

The U-Haul truck will be driven to New Orleans, La., by Sharon Allen, project coordinator, and friend Shannon Trujillo over the next few days where the books will be loaded onto a cargo ship headed to Nairobi, Kenya.

Allen would like to thank the entire Los Alamos community for the fantastic outpouring of support over the last three months. In addition to the large number of books donated, sorted and packed, almost $3,500 in shipping funds was raised by the seven Los Alamos schools and interested community members.

As this project will be ongoing, donations of children’s books from preschool through eighth grade reading level, in addition to shipping fund donations, can be dropped off anytime at 926 Tewa Loop. Email Allen at sharon@projecthumanity.com to become involved with this project.