Thanks for all your help!
Books for Baghdad drive completed
Books for Baghdad was an extremely successful community-based project in Williamsport, Pennsylvania that collected and shipped approximately 10,000 books, of all genres and for all ages, to members of the U.S. Armed Forces in Iraq. The project, which began in March 2004, has concluded. We received many letters of thanks from soldiers and even some special requests for titles.
Photo by Mark Nance
Children donate books for U.S. Soldiers and Marines during the Books for Baghdad Drive in Williamsport, PA. Books were collected at the James V. Brown Library.People stateside continue to contact us asking how they can donate books to soldiers. We try to respond as quickly as possible and give sound advice.
If you want to send care packages that include books overseas, take a look at this Web site: www.AnySoldier.com. By clicking on the WHERE TO SEND tab, you can find out who is accepting packages for soldiers and where to send them.
The goal of our project was to help alleviate boredom and homesickness for service members by supplying books that entertained and educated. We also send children's books to allow soldiers to give as presents to youth as part of their peacekeeping duties.
A grass-roots project, our book drive was lucky to have a local library act as a fiscal agent. Books for Baghdad relied completely upon monetary donations for postage and the James V. Brown Library helped tremendously.
There are two non-profit groups -- www.AnySoldier.com and www.anyServiceMember.org -- that can assist the public with suggestions for care packages and addresses for soldiers. Anyone interested in e-mailing soldiers may do so by contacting BiBi Melguizo, Public Affairs Officer, with the non-profit, civilian group www.eMailOurMilitary.com
and www.eMailOurMilitary.org.
Books for Baghdad Background
WILLIAMSPORT SUN-GAZETTE MARCH 2004
There are currently 110,000 U.S. troops serving in Iraq and the Middle East and more than that many in relatives who spend every moment fearing for their loved ones and hoping for a safe return. One local mom is trying to make a difference by asking all those in the area to support her campaign to send books overseas to the troops stationed there.
Lance Van Auken II, left, of the 82nd Airborne Division in Baghdad, Iraq visits with his cousin Master Sgt. Rick Marquis.Books for Baghdad began after Robin Van Auken’s son, Lance, was sent to Baghdad to serve with the 82nd Airborne Division, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment. He began requesting books from his mother in the care packages she would send. Although the first couple of books she sent were brand new, she began buying used books and each place she went she found herself telling those she bought them from, “these are books for Baghdad.”
“Lance needed something to keep his mind off what was going on around him," Van Auken said. "When he was out on his patrol he would always make sure to bring dollar bills with him to pass out to the children. Because he enjoyed reading so much as a child, I thought the Iraqi children might appreciate having new and unusual books. Also, it may give the soldiers a chance to read aloud to the little ones.”
Little did she know that her intentions were contagious and quickly spread to the hearts of many interested parties willing to help support our troops any way possible.
On March 16, 2004 the James V. Brown Library held a meeting to discuss plans for collecting used books by the public to send overseas and is now supporting Van Auken in her Books for Baghdad campaign.
AnySoldier.US is the direct way for you to show your support for soldiers.
AnySoldier.US is about sending support, not just stuff, and you send it. We provide suggestions on what to send, how to send, and volunteer soldier contacts who will put your letters and packages in the hands of soldiers who don't get much mail.
eMail Our Military (eMOM) is a free service providing a safe way for people to continue the tradition of "Any Service Member" mail with a much more personal touch - email! This is your opportunity to let America's military know how much you appreciate what they do on our behalf 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Fast Fact
In 1943 the United States Government collaborated with Ballentine Publishing company to issue the “Armed Forces Editions,” which promoted literacy and created a new growth in popularity for paperback books. During the Vietnam War, the American Red Cross sent books to the troops to boost their spirits.
