Kevin McLarty of Benicia Boy Scouts Troop 8 is organizing a book drive for his Eagle Project. All donations will go to children in Kibera, Kenya. (Courtesy photo)

For his Eagle Project, Kevin McLarty of Benicia Troop 8 is planning to earn his wings as an Eagle Scout by organizing a book drive Sunday for the children of Kenya.

A senior at Benicia High School, McLarty has been a scout practically his entire life. He joined the Cub Scouts at a young age and has been a member of the Boy Scouts since sixth grade, earning the rank of Life Scout.

As he prepares to graduate from high school, McLarty is aiming to earn the title of Eagle Scout, the highest possible rank in the Boy Scouting program. To achieve the rank, a Scout generally has to be a Life Scout for at least six months, earn a minimum rank of 21 merit badges, demonstrate Scout Spirit and leadership, undergo a review process and be in charge of a service project, known as an Eagle Project. For his final project, McLarty opted to perform a philanthropic task: organizing a book drive for materials to be donated to the poverty-stricken neighborhoods of Kibera, Kenya.

“I decided on a book drive because there are other communities around the world that are in far greater need of help compared to us,” McLarty said. “I believed providing education to the children of Kenya would be more helpful than, say, building another park bench.”

All types of books will be accepted. Those that are not appropriate, McLarty said, would be sorted out by the crew working at the drive.

McLarty feels that providing Kenyan children with a proper education would be greatly beneficial.

“There is extreme poverty in the Kibera slums in Kenya and providing them with educational assistance can help them reach the education those children want and deserve,” he said.

The drive will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 8 at two locations: Benicia Middle School, located at 1100 Southampton Road; and Benicia High School, located at 1101 Military West. For more information, email McLarty at kevinmclarty00@gmail.com.

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