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On Saturday, the Zeta Epsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. celebrated opening a new little library. In conjunction with their Uplift Our Local Community initiative, the sorority held a ribbon cutting for Lake Kennedy Park’s new little library at 1300 Blythewood Ln. In collaboration with the Lake Kennedy Civic League and Suffolk Parks and Recreation, the little library provides educational books for families and children.

Uplift Our Local Community Chairperson Cheryl Lawton talked about the process of bringing the little library to fruition with Suffolk Parks and Recreation and the Lake Kennedy Civic League. 

 “One of the things that we wanted to do is we wanted to ensure that we had support from the community,” Lawton said. “That was very intentional because we think that number one, if you’re going to do work in the community, of course, have the community help support as well as ensuring that everybody knows about it who live in the community.” 

Lawton also talked about creating the library for the park to ensure children have books to read, especially African-American history books.

“And what a great way to celebrate that during the first weekend of Black History Month. Part of this is we’ve had over 70 years of supporting the Suffolk community and this is just another example of how we want to ensure that we’re spreading education and supporting our community that we live in,” Lawton said.

Lawton says the sorority will provide new books to the little library quarterly, emphasizing the need for African-American education to children and beyond.

“Of course, it’s a ‘give a book, take a book,’ however, if we don’t get the book back, that is fine. The point is that it’s out there, somebody’s reading and that’s the most important thing,” Lawton said.

For those who want to support the sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Zeta Epsilon Omega Public Relations Chairperson Britta Brown Whitehead says they do take donations and that residents can learn more from their website, akasuffolk.org. Reflecting on their organization motto, “Service to All Mankind,” Whitehead talked about the importance of the library project to help educate and support the Suffolk community.

“We’re providing books, but not just books. It’s books about African-American children by African-American authors. So we’re trying to elevate everybody and just uplift everybody. That’s the whole purpose of our committee,” Whitehead said. “So I am very excited about this effort – even though the kids may have taken it down, maybe this time they know the ladies in the pink and green came out here and we care about them. That’s one of the things that would really help the young people today.”

For more information, go to akasuffolk.org or email zeoakatechnology@gmail.com.