People in and around Emporia are being asked to help in a statewide effort to collect books for the children of Liberia. Books are being collected at the Dillon’s store, 902 E. 12th Ave., for the Kansas Youth Book Drive.
Mary Melhorn, who is coordinating the drive in Emporia, said the drive began when Balbir Mathur of Wichita, president of Trees for Life, spoke with Joseph Korto, the minister of education for Liberia, who told him that there is only one book for every 27 children in that country.
“The idea,” Melhorn said, “is that they would like to get some used books to the kids in Liberia.”
The motto of the effort is “Give books. Share love. Spread hope.”
The Dillon grocery chain has joined the effort to collect donated books, placing boxes in their stores, including the one in Emporia. Books will be collected through the end of February.
Melhorn said that the youth group at Emporia Presbyterian Church has volunteered to pack the books for shipping. Pratt Industries is providing the boxes for shipping, and Firestone Natural Rubber Co. will ship the books from a U.S. port to Liberia.
What is needed are used children’s picture books in good condition, with no religious or political content. Almost all the children in Liberia speak English, so English-language books are welcome.
Churches and service organizations are welcome to do their own collecting and turn the books in at Dillon’s before March 1.
For more information on the book drive, visit loveinyourattic.org.