Library Staff Spreads Holiday Spirit Overseas

Chesterfield Township Library employees are shipping their holiday spirit overseas.

Earlier this month, employees sent care packages to six U.S. Air Force members serving in Afghanistan.

“Since mid-November, library staff have been purchasing and placing candy, gum, snacks, puzzle books, cards, magazines and similar items in boxes,” said Librarian Ed Mandel.

This is the third year that Chesterfield Township Library staff members have sent holiday care packages overseas. Employees sent eight packages in 2010 and mailed six packages to troops in Afghanistan last year.

“Library staff member Lori Tipton again asked her son, Senior Airman Scott Tipton, who serves at Little Rock Air Force Base, for a list of people the library could send care packages to,” Mandel said. “The list this year includes five men and one woman.”

Tipton, whose younger son, Cody, also serves in the U.S. Air Force, said she and other staff members donate items for the care packages to show their appreciation for the troops who are away from their families during the holidays.

The library also served as a drop-off location for the Chesterfield Goodfellows holiday toy donation program.

Library staff also collected nonperishable food items through Dec. 15. Mandel said the food collected at the library was donated to food pantries operated by local churches.

“Library Director Marion Lusardi said the library receives so many donations from the public for the different programs because, ’I think the holidays bring out the best in people, and we want to thank the community for their support and good wishes all year long,’” Mandel wrote in an email to Patch.