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| Alexandria Earth Day | |||||||||||||
| Rockville Hometown Holidays | |||||||||||||
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| Pender UM Outreach Flea |
Graduating teachers from the The Literacy Cooperative Program of George Washington University select Diana's Free Books for their future classrooms.
Green Acres Center
on a Beautiful Thursday afternoon
BOXES SHIPPED
214 boxes in 2007
20 boxes in 2006
100 boxes in 2005 40 boxes in 2004 69
boxes in 2003
We have sent hundreds of boxes of books to international beneficiaries, including recipients in Kenya, Zambia, and the Philippines. We also work with distribution partners, providing them the books to send to their beneficiaries. For example, we have given books to the Rotary of McLean to send to India, and to Feed the Hungry to the Philippines.
We also work within the United States, with a wide array of beneficiaries, including the Virginia Correctional Center for Women, our U.S. troops abroad, St. Leo's Senior Center, Hostelling International, and Vienna Youth Theaters. We have aided a variety of schools and colleges.
We distribute to the general public every Thursday at Green Acres Center in Fairfax, VA. We also participate in local fairs, including the Rockville Hometown Festival, Vienna's Fourth of July Festival, the Reston Town Festival, and the Fairfax Fall Festival. We partner with Pender United Methodist Church for their biannual flea.
The Story Begins in Kenya
Seven Quaker ministers in Kenya were initially selected as our first recipients, primarily because the mail between us worked. During our first years, we sent boxes of books by media mail to Kimilili, Vihiga, Tiriki, Turbo, Kitale, Wodanga, and Nairobi. Zablon Malenge, a Quaker minister in Nairobi, and his wife stand in front of the first "Diana's Library." With the first boxes sent to him, Zablon established one library and 3 kiosks with Diana's books.
Zablon writes, " May God bless
you more abundantly and open ways for you that even you will not be able to
comprehend the goodness of it all. I am praying for you."
Amos Dodo asked for a Bible for each member of his church. Not knowing, I asked, "How many people go to your church?" When I found out that he was pastor of 700, I was like Sarah, I laughed. Nevertheless, we have been able to ship him 2 boxes of used Bibles. He writes, "I have acquired a new name, " Diana's Books Father. This is because of the books from your organization. I am a church minister aged 67 and I feel delighted to receive and distribute the books to schools, social organizations, etc. Please continue to send us more books. The children's books were an inspiration to the youth. The encyclopedia, the last to be received, were very well accepted. The demand is now high."
In 2004, we were quite surprised when the Dag Hammarskjold Memorial Library contacted us. You see, they are located in Zambia, whereas our previous recipients were all in Kenya. We had an international reputation!
In a similar manner, two schools in Kenya came to us, St. Peters Moi's
Bridge and Friends Mufutu. From Samuel Akway at Moi's Bridge. In 2004 and
2005, we shipped 18 boxes of gently used math and science text books.
Headmaster Samuel writes, "
Our President, Larry and his wife Myoung, made their wedding trip to Korea where they remet Myoung's high-school friend. Dr. Yong Lee was called to establish a ministry in the Philippines, and is the founder of Unity Christian School. Dr. Lee asked for, and received, 3 boxes of donated, new Bibles. He writes,
I'm really very thankful for the books that you've sent for my school. I'm very happy because the empty school library will be full of books when w receive the books that you've sent. This will also encourage the students to study harder. I'm so blessed because God made a way for me to know you through my good friends, Myoung and Larry.
In 2007
In
2007, the US post service got out of the surface shipping business, and all
at once, we were no longer able to ship to a wide variety of recipients. In
this year, then, we focused on sending one shipment to Zablon Malenge. On
September 15, 2007, we shipped 214 boxes. The shipment arrived in late
October, but was held by the shipping agent for "additional charges." Zablon
attempted to get these charges reduced. The discussion was postponed until
after their election. During the uprising that occurred with the democratic
failure of the losing party to relinquish control, 3 of Diana's kiosks were
burned, and Zablon had to seek shelter with his children, as his residence
was close to
Kibera,
the site of our mission work. The shipment, however, remained safe. When we
realized that the shipping agent was also charging us to store the good, we
went ahead and paid the transfer
fees. The shipment arrived to Zablon in late March, 2008.
It included beginning dictionaries, readers, spellers, and 'rithmetics. We sent algebra, geometry, science, world geography, world history, biology, chemistry, and SAT prep. We also sent boxes of general books, some with Bibles, dictionaries, and other concentrations, including children's and health. We sent several sets of encyclopedias, not only standard ones, but those describing technology, nature, and home repair. Zablon writes,
God is good! Im very excited and you can only guess why. The books have arrived in Nairobi today. I have been over to have a look and I cant help but to feel a sigh of relief after the long struggle to get them out of the port.
A Growing List of Distribution Partners
In 2007 and 2008, we have had a growing list of distribution partners. These are folks who will either pick up their books or pay the shipping costs to have certain books sent to them. Once approved by our Board, distributing partners do not pay anything for the books they receive from us. If you would like to a distributing partner, please fill out our application.
Hostelling International
Rotary of McLean’s Indian Book Project
Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic School
Literacy Cooperative Program of the George Washington University
Patrick Henry College
St Leo's Senior Center
Vienna Youth Drama Club
Maranatha Royal Academy, Nigeria
Belmont Charter school, Philadelphia, PA
Feed the Hungry
We have also grown our local beneficiary list. These beneficiaries do not pay anything for the books they receive from us.
Virginia Correctional Center for Women
We're Open!
Our
most exciting news of 2008 has been our grand opening in May at the
Green Acres Center, 4401 Sideburn Road, Fairfax VA 22030. Every Thursday
between 6-9p.m. we distribute Free Books! DVDs, VHS tapes, CDs, and audio
books are also available at very reasonable prices. Please help our cause
today by distributing our
flier!
From 123 in Fairfax City, take University Dr. east. Bear to the left to stay on University. Make a right onto Forest Dr. Make another right onto Sideburn Rd. If you prefer a shorter walk, with no stairs, drive past the main entrance, and continue on to the south parking lot and entrance.