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Courtesy photoCOMMUNITY News:
Each of the seven Los Alamos pubic schools is well on its way to creating school libraries in Kenya. Chamisa, Barranca and Pinon elementary schools have already reached the 1,000+ book goal. Mountain and Aspen elementary schools are very close to that goal, while Los Alamos High School and Los Alamos Middle School are still actively soliciting books so they, too, can create 1,000 book libraries.
Book donations (preschool-8th grade reading level) can be dropped off at any of these school. Bake sales, bookmark making and selling, Penny War competitions, door-to-door solicitations and grant writing are all avenues being utilized by these schools to raise the $500 shipping costs for each library.
Local retired educator Sharon Allen is coordinating the drives at all the Los Alamos schools. In addition, four more libraries are being made with the help of neighbors, friends, community volunteers and (even a dog!) from books that have been donated by the community over the past few months.
These 11 libraries need to be packed and ready to mail to a New Orleans warehouse by the end of November, with the books expected to arrive in Kenya in April 2018.
Allen is looking into the possibility of transporting the books (12,000-13,000 books in approximately 175 boxes) to the the warehouse via rental truck in order to save on USPS mailing costs. Anyone with information on a large truck or trailer available for rent may contact her at sharon@projecthumanity.com.
In June of 2018 a volunteer trip is being planned through Project Humanity for interested community members to travel to Kenya to help with the delivery and set up of these libraries.
For more information, contact Allen at sharon@projecthumanity.com.
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