Cleveland Teachers Union school nurse Diane Adloff might be 9,000 miles away from home serving as an Army nurse at a field base in Iraq, but she stays connected to her grandchildren by taking advantage of the "United Through Reading" program. Through the program, soldiers send videos of themselves reading books home to their children or other young relatives.

But Adloff says the program desperately needs more books for kids ages 1-8. AFT president Edward J. McElroy is asking AFT members to help sustain and expand this program, as it practices what we preach-reading to or with your children makes a big difference, no matter how difficult the circumstances. (The AFT also will be sending a large supply of mini-DVDs.)

Here's what to do: Organize book drives during union meetings or conferences and at your place of work, if possible. Ask for new or used children's books for ages 1-8. Feel free to publicize this activity in union and work newsletters, the local media and elsewhere. It's a great way to mobilize and help out a worthy program.

Very important: Once you've collected books, please write on the inside cover page the appropriate age for each book and the following: "Donation from AFT." You can add the name of your local, city, and state, if you'd like.

Send the books directly to:

Major Steve Hopper
25th ID Task Force Lightning
Unit #72111
APO AE 09393

Please let the AFT public affairs department know what you're doing and if you have any questions or comments. Contact public affairs director Chuck Porcari, cporcari@aft.org. [Janet Bass]

March 7, 2007