Hundreds of local veterans will soon be able to enjoy 725 books thanks to the first-ever Veterans Day book drive at Sandia/California.

The books, donated by the site’s members of the workforce, will be distributed by staff at the Livermore Veterans Administration to hospitals in Menlo Park, Palo Alto, and Yuba City.

The book drive was initiated by Security Officer Mark Cordes (8511), who got the idea after visiting his father-in-law at the hospital. He pitched the idea to members of the Military Support Committee (MSC), which agreed to spearhead the book drive.

 “The books will help lift the spirits of veterans who are in the hospital, especially during the holidays,” Mark says. “We are fortunate to have supportive and caring members of the workforce who donated new and gently used books.”

Twenty boxes of books were delivered to the Livermore VA hospital on Nov. 22 by Mark and MSC members Brian Abelgas (8537), Sarah Flores (8005),  and Rachel Sowell (8000).

“The MSC would like to sincerely thank the members of the workforce for their generous donations,” Rachel says. “It is your continued support of our country’s military and their families that enables the Military Support Committee at Sandia/California to facilitate and organize events for our military.”

The MSC will work with the Livermore VA hospital staff after the holidays to see if they would like the site to host another book drive next year in honor of Veterans Day.