Waukesha to launch Big Read with collection for troops
Waukesha — will launch its Big Read - featuring Earnest Hemingway's "A Farewell to Arms" - Saturday by encouraging donations to the military through Project Military Comfort.
The Waukesha Farmer's Market, which is open from 7 a.m. to noon that day along the Fox River downtown, will provide the kickoff. There'll be an 11 a.m. military fly-over, a Color Guard, and a collection of donations that will be sent to troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait.
People will have a chance to donate items that will be packaged for troops, to write a note of encouragement and thanks or take in other activities. Items being collected are snacks such as jerky, granola bars and nuts, baby wipes, resealable Baggies, lip balm, bug repellent, sun block, deodorant, toothbrushes and toothpaste, phone cars (AT&T preferred) and money for shipping. Checks should be made out to Operation Homefront-Wisconsin.
Copies of the Hemingway book will also be packaged for the troops.
The Big Read is a citywide initiative spearheaded by the Waukesha Public Library through the National Endowment for the Arts aimed at encouraging the love of books. Events, including book discussions, film and theater events, run through Nov. 15.