Members of the Aktion Club, a service leadership club for adults with disabilities, on Monday unveiled a Library Book Bench that they built for East View Elementary School. The bench is stocked with books for children to access for free 24/7.
Wendell Foster and Kiwanis sponsor the Aktion Club, whose mission is to provide adults with disabilities an opportunity to develop leadership skills and serve their communities.
The local club has grown from six members to 16 active members since it started about three years ago, and they meet every month to plan community service projects.
“It was a great project because we were able to divide up into teams,” said Cindy Huston, Wendell Foster’s facility advisor. “This is something they’ve learned a lot from — working in teams, making a list. It’s just been nice for them to all work together.”
One team was in charge of building — figuring out what parts they needed, forming a budget, getting the supplies, and putting it together. There was also a paint team that put on the base coat before stenciling was added.
A third team was tasked with going to 2nd & Charles, where they sorted through boxes of books that had been collected during a book drive for Wendell Foster. More than 100 books were selected for the Library Book Bench.
“We are very excited about the Library Book Bench,” said EVES 5th-grade teacher Stacey Small. “This project will support student literacy 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year round. No library card or check-out is needed; this project operates completely on the honor system. Providing full access to reading will help prevent learning loss when school is not in session, including Christmas break, Spring and Fall breaks, and summer vacation.”
Members of the community who wish to donate books that are in good condition and appropriate for young children may contact Small at [email protected]
