Photos have been removed from this issue because of a law in Kenya requiring strict documentation for photos and videos featuring school children.
Greetings! Here is the December 2021 issue of the Libraries For Kids, Int'l monthly e-newsletter. From all of us we wish you a very merry and blessed Christmas. Thanks for your interest and support. QUOTE OF THE MONTH
"Success is not measured in heights attained but rather in obstacles overcome." - Booker T. Washingtion
1,363 Libraries And Counting
It is hard for me to believe that in just 2 years and 7 months since the inception of Libraries For Kids, Int'l that libraries have been created in 1,363 schools impacting the lives of approximately 300,000 children. And not all of the books in containers 5 & 6 have been delivered to schools yet.
Containers 7 & 8 have been shipped and are due to arrive at the end of January.
How have the books helped. Listen to Branmuu who was failing science before the books came. Headteacher Mary at Kalimenza talks about how the picture books encourage learners (students) to learn English. She told us that learners are coming to school early so they can read the books.
Checks: If you prefer to donate with a check, please send it payable to Libraries For Kids, Int'l to PO Box 1013, Bluffton, SC 29910. We love checks - no credit card processing fees.
Shirts & Hats Avaliable
We now have Libraries For Kids shirts & hats available on our website. The back of the t-shirts and sweatshirts displays our slogon: "What we do for ourselves alone dies with us. What we do for others is immortal." By buying and wearing our shirts and hats you help us financially and in raising awareness of what Libraries For Kids, Int'l is doing. Plus, you will look really sharp!
SCHOOL VISITS
This picture is at Mbagha Pre- School. The kids there were simply adorable. Visiting the schools and seeing first had the impact the books are haveing on the lives of children was truly inspiring. I can't wait to go back.
Laura Winkel
We are please to welcome Laura Winkel to our Board. She has a very unique background so we look forward to her perspective on issues we face.
"I was born and raised outside of Atlantic City, New Jersey where most of my family still resides. I am number nine of ten siblings! My parents have been married over fifty years. I grew up playing basketball, volleyball, hockey and football throughout my teenage and adult years and was an avid runner for many years. I went right into my career and while working, completed my BA online at Fairleigh Dickinson University.
In 2008, I started my law enforcement career as an officer and have 12 years total law enforcement experience in various capacities. While working at Absecon Police Department, NJ in 2018; I was injured in the line of duty and my career came to an end in 2019. I moved to Bluffton, SC with my puppy for a job opportunity in 2020 and since then transferred to Equis Financial as a life insurance broker serving all of South Carolina and 5 other states across the US. "
NEED A SPEAKER?
We love telling the Libraries For Kids, Int'l story. If your organization needs a speaker please contact us at books@libraries4kids.org or phone us at 843-597-4826. We look forward to sharing our story with your group.
SHORT TERM GOAL:
1.5 MILLION CHILDREN
6 Containers have been delivered to schools. Containers 7 & 8 were shipped December 16, 2021 and are scheduled to arrive at the end of January, 2022. Containers 9 & 10 are due to ship around the end of March. When these 10 containers are all delivered they will create libraries in approximately 2,500 schools impacting approximately 500,000 children.
But, there are over 6,700 rural schools in Kenya, approximately 1.5 million students. We need to fund another 18 containers.
Due to higher costs and Kenyan customs duties (we keep applying to get those duties waived) it now costs $19,000 to ship a container and another $6,000 to process, stamp, sort, and distribute the books after they arrive at our warehouse in Kitui Kenya. So, roughtly $25,000 to ship a container holding 40,000 to 50,000 books. Kenya is a large country about 85% the size of Texas. As we supply schools in the more remote counties the costs go up.
Your support can help over 1.5 million children get an education and have the opportunity for a better life.
Our long term vision is to help establish libraries in other countries in Africa and beyond.
Just a few dollars a month helps. You can set up a recurring monthly donation on our website.
- Kwambo School
- Kwamboo
- Kwambo classroom
- Board members
- Office/library
Smile.Amazon For Kids
You can support Libraries For Kids, Int'l with your Amazon purchases. It's easy. Set up an account at Smile.Amazon.com. It is the same as a regular Amazon account except that you have the option to designate a charity. Please designate Libraries For Kids, Intl. Amazon will donate 0.5% of your purchase to your charity. The donation comes from Amazon, not you. This link will take you directly to smile.amazon.com in support of Libraries For Kids, Int'l.
When you place an order, login to Smile.Amazon and proceed as you normally would with any other Amazon purchase.
Thanks for your help.
PS - For more information about Libraries For Kids, Int'l visit our website or contact Roy Austin at books@libraries4kids.org or phone him at 843-597- 4826.
Consider a legacy gift as part of your estate planning.
What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us. What we have done for others is immortal.
Consider a legacy gift as part of your estate planning. 100 years from now no one will remember who we are or what we did. The only true legacy any of us can leave is the positive impact on the lives of others. ______________________________________
SPREAD THE WORD
Please, spread the word by forwarding this email to your friends and contacts, or posting excerpts from this newsletter, or our website, (copy/paste) on your social media accounts.
Together we can make a huge difference in the lives of thousands of children. CHARITY NAVIGATOR
Recently I was asked why Libraries For Kids, Int'l is not rated by Charity Navigator. We are listed on their site (click here) but they do not rate a charity until after they have filed 3 consecutive 990's (tax returns). We are just 2 years old so they will not rate us until after we file our 990 for 2021 next year in 2022.
Lavington Jioni Rotary Club
We are excited to report that we have partnered with the Lavington Jioni Rotary Club in Nairobi, Kenya and one of their members, Ng'ang'a Wanjohi is now on our Board of Directors. They are assisting us with receipt, stamping, repacking, and delivering the container books to schools. They are also coordinating activities with all of the 40 other Rotary Clubs in Kenya to help Libraries For Kids, Int'l. Click here for their Facebook page.
What does your donation accomplish?
Libraries For Kids, Int'l offers not a handout, but a hand up. Parents in rural Kenya pay tuition for their children to go to school. It is a huge sacrifice when your income is derived from a subsistence farm or your herd of sheep, goats, or cattle. But it is a testament to their hunger for knowledge.
The Kenyan government gives each rural school $5.50 per student per year. For a school with a student population of 100 that is $550.00 per year to pay for the schools expenses (teacher salaries, textbooks, supplies, etc.) As a result, textbooks and libraries are lacking.
How can people lift themselves up and solve their problems without knowledge?
Your donations are helping children in Kenya and hopefully someday other countries, to help themselves.
I hope you will consider Libraries For Kids, Int'l.
Media Attention
WTOC TV
WJCL TV
Bluffton, SC Chamber of Commerce Spotlight
Please share these stories with your friends and on your social media platforms. Thanks
For more news about Libraries For Kids, Int'l visit our website
For videos please visit our YouTube channel by clicking HERE.
WHAT WE BELIEVE
We are not affiliated with any political party, political movement, social movement, or religious system. We exist to give children the opportunity to improve their knowledge through education.
We believe:
All children should have the opportunity to better themselves through education. Therefore, we dedicate ourselves to improving educational opportunities.
Children are children regardless of race, nationality, religion, sex, ethnic background, or any other delineation. Therefore, we pledge to help all children.
We exist to help improve educational opportunities for children. Therefore, we will not discriminate against any child for any reason.
Discrimination of any kind or on any basis is immoral and unacceptable. Therefore, we will not discriminate against any individual, employee, volunteer, or anyone else for any reason.
Helping people help themselves is our goal. Education is the best vehicle to help people help themselves.
Donor Honor Roll
Our Donor Honor Roll is based on cumulative contributions. No matter what level you are on, you are important. But your continuing support is also vital. We hope you will continue to contribute and gradually move to a higher level on the honor roll. A little each month and you will soon be at the next level. You can now set up a monthly donation HERE. You can also make a tribute gift in honor or memory of someone. There are a lot of new names on the honor roll this month and several people who have moved up to the next level.
So far we have received donations of money or services from 250 people or organizations located in:
Five Countries: Australia, France, Kenya, Northern Mariana Islands, USA
29 States: AK, AL, CA, CO, FL, GA, IA, IN, IL, KS, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, OH, OK, PA, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI
Click Here to see the full donor Honor Roll
Here are the different honor roll levels and who is on each level. The Swahili word is in parenthesis.
Meerkat (Meerkat)
Donated books and/or money.
So far there are 150 Meerkats. Click
here [to see them all. Some of you are](/about/honor-roll/)
close to the Zebra level so please consider an additional donation.
Zebra (Punda Milia) - $100 or more
To date, there are 80 Zebras. Click
here to see them all
Impala (Pala) - $500 or more
Delores Ackerman Anonymous Eddie Federwisch Gary Shepard Rick & Cindy Jacobs Steve Richards Don Wright PayPal Giving Fund Cargo Group LLC
Rob & Pam Hager Shirley Mingledorff Susan Kreick Bob Pace Don Wright Bluffton United Methodist Church William & Susan Carpenter
Giraffe (Twiga) - $1,000 or more
Benton Bowen Charleston CFO Council Kirk Fox Gary & Dot Jeger Mickaylla McDonald JR & Betty Rutherford Janice Allinder-Anestes Ty & Suzanne Giesemann Ed Zimmerman Andrew & Lisa Davis George Kreick
Jim & Karen Ralston
Oryx (Choroa)- $2,500 or more
Marilyn Moore Steve & Ruth Dexter Den & Jan Austin Elwood Barnes
Rhinoceros (Kifaru): $5,000 or more
Ed & Betty Eich
Sable Antelope (Mfano Mzuri): $7,500 or more
Cheetah (Duma): $10,000 or more
Rick & Becky Harris
Leopard (Chui) - $25,000 or more
Dr. David Stallings
Lion (Simba) - $50,000 or more
Roy & Sharron Austin
Elephant (Tembo) - $100,000 or more
Maasai Club - $250,000 or more
The Maasai are among the foremost African ethnic groups and are known internationally because of their links to the national parks and reserves. They respect the land and are adapting to the changing world around them.
Sharron Austin Society - $500,000 or more
Sharron was an inspiration to Libraries For Kids, Int’l Founder Roy Austin. Her life philosophy was “Life is not the way it is supposed to be. It is the way it is. How you cope with it is what makes the difference.” Her smile, positive attitude, and ability to overcome numerous challenges in her life are an inspiration to all. She died on March 29, 2020. She is sorely missed but her spirit lives on. She was an enthusiastic supporter and donor to Libraries For Kids, Int’l.
MEET OUR PARTNERS
We are blessed to have several partners who have donated their time and services.
Barbara Bricker is the owner of Small Miracles Design and is an expert in designing unique graphic solutions for her clients. Barbara graciously donated her services to create our new logo, brochures, and postcards.
https://smallmiraclesdesign.com/
Paul Soviero, Owner, Next Move HHI has helped us find bookcases for our storage location.
http://www.nexmovehhi.com/index.php
James Worix, owner of Worix Media is helping us with IT and media editing services.
Paul Uhls BNC Graphics 19 Seventh Ave, Bluffton, South Carolina 29910 https://bncgraphics.com/
Supplied business cards and rack cards. Printing our brochures and business cards at cost.
Dan Russin Store Manager Morningstar Storage 1110 Fording Island Rd Bluffton, SC 29910
Donated a 10ft x 10ft space for us to store books.
Allison Debs Lewis Territory Account Manager Staples Advantage www.staplesadvantage.com
Staples has donated shipping boxes and packing tape
Alan Flowers and Alan Kwiatkowski are helping us spread the word about Libraries For Kids, Int'l. 70 Pennington Dr. Studio 16D Bluffton, SC 29910 The Stations call-in # 843-800-1492; Office # 843- 505-8513 https://www.talkoneradio.com/
