About 1,000 retirees in deep East Texas are working to replenish the bookshelves at two elementary schools in West, Texas. They were destroyed when a fertilizer plant exploded in the town last year.
The Deep East Texas Retired and Senior Volunteer Program seeks gently used books at kindergarten through fifth grade reading levels. Director Pam Dunn said this a month-long, statewide effort through the Texas Senior Corps Association.
"Being that the Texas Senior Corps is a pretty close-knit group of directors around the state, we thought it would give more power to the project if we all got together (because that’s how Texans do things) to help. We can all take what we have that we’re not using and pass it on to somebody who would benefit from it," Dunn said.
There are drop-off locations in Lufkin and Jasper. Dunn said pickups can be arranged anywhere in the 12-county deep East Texas area through the end of the month. Contact the Deep East Texas Council of Governments Retired and Senior Volunteer Program for more information at 800-256-7696, ext. 5402.
