Airmen support child literacy with “Books for Life”

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jessica Lockoski
  • 22nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- --  Some people may say books can open thousands of doors to new worlds of endless imagination and experiences.

Airmen from the 22nd Contracting Squadron are helping hold these doors ajar by volunteering with the Books for Life program, assisting local communities and children in less fortunate countries to enhance their learning centers.

"This project gives a chance for children in these countries to get books that they may not otherwise be exposed too," said Master Sgt. Lalena Burns, 22nd CONS. "Sharing these books are like sending little paper ambassadors for the United States, and could even inspire the next Ben Franklin or Stephen Hawking."

The Books for Life International program is a non-profit organization which is a branch from the Trees for Life program, educating economically underdeveloped communities world wide on the benefits of planting food bearing trees.

Books for Life currently assists with community book projects in the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, India, Ethiopia, Pakistan and the Americas and the number of locations are growing.

"This past winter and spring, volunteers, including Team McConnell members, helped process more than 10,000 used Wichita unified school district library books for a shipment routed for Ethiopia this month," said E. Marie Baker, Books for Life Coordinator.

Books for Life fosters the joy of reading, Ms. Baker explained.

"Where there are books, there is reading; where there is reading, education happens," she said. "And where education happens, children have a hope of escaping poverty."

Volunteers also benefit from sharing the experience of helping with the project.

"Not only does a mission like this bond our squadron together, but it gives you great personal satisfaction knowing that you are doing something positive for the community," said Sergeant Burns.

But, donating books is a portion of the assistance the organization needs; Trees for Life works with a variety of programs that people can volunteer for.

Members from the 22nd Contracting and Comptroller Squadrons are scheduled to volunteer their time to package and deliver the donated books to a shipping point March 26. If McConnell members would like to volunteer for the event, or with future "Trees for Life" projects, call Master Sgt. Lalena Burns at 759-4528.