Scouting for Literature
Collecting Books for Destroyed Libraries
by Jill B. Adair

Fourteen-year-old Michael Ward found out that one person really can make a difference to others in need after he dedicated his Eagle Scout project to collecting books to restock a Katrina-ravaged elementary school library in Gulfport, Mississippi.

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Initially the Boy Scout from the Phoenix North Stake hoped to collect one thousand books, but due to the generosity of a community who eagerly supported his project, he collected more than 34,000.

The scope of his project caught the attention of National Boy Scouts of America officials, and Michael was chosen as one of eight delegates to represent the organization in its “Annual Report to the Nation” trip to Washington, D.C., to visit with President George W. Bush.

In September 2005, shortly after Hurricane Katrina devastated areas along the Gulf Coast, Michael, then thirteen, talked to his family about how they could help. They had heard news about library books damaged from water and mildew. Michael decided to collect children’s books to replace those that had been ruined.

The family found that the library at Anniston Elementary School in Gulfport, Mississippi, had lost all of its approximately 9,000 books. The students there had empty shelves where books of all kinds once had been.

Michael spoke at a Phoenix school district meeting, outlining his project and asking for support. School officials gave Michael permission to send out flyers to all thirty-two schools in the Washington Elementary School District and made available several empty classrooms for storage.

The first book officially donated was a children’s book, Chico, written by former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. She personally signed the book and gave it to Michael. The press publicized the event and Michael’s project took off. “The word got out and the books started pouring in,” said Michael’s mother, Diane.

Family and members of Michael’s Scout troop began sorting the books. Other groups, including a singles ward, schools, other churches, and Boy and Girl Scout troops volunteered almost daily after school.

In each book, they attached a sticker that read, “To Gulfport, Mississippi, from your friends in Phoenix, Arizona, Washington Elementary School District, and Boy Scout Troop 406, sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.” “I was shocked by the response,” said Michael. “I didn’t know there were so many generous people willing to give their time, effort, money, or books.” In the end, 34,812 books were collected and set on twelve pallets, each four feet square and six feet tall.

In January of 2006, a trucking company offered to deliver the books, and Michael, his dad, two other Scouts and their dads drove 1,750 miles to see the books arrive and to present them to school officials, who were very thankful and shared extra books with neighboring libraries.

Later, Michael was surprised to receive a letter from the BSA national headquarters, inviting him to be a member of the 2006 Report to the Nation delegation. The group spent five days in the nation’s capital, meeting President Bush on February 26, 2006.

From the entire experience, Michael said he learned that “one person can make a difference. It sounds cliché,” he said, “but it’s true.” He said he is grateful for the opportunity to have helped others who have lost so much from the effects of a devastating hurricane. “It felt really good,” he said. “We were able to comfort them a little.”

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