Cousins Emily Krasnickas and Hanna Holmes set up a collection box at C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street, on Friday, July 1, to gather items for an orphanage in Kenya.

The girls are two of 13 from Newtown Congregational Church set to travel to Kenya in August. The travelers will live at the orphanage and provide a "summer camp" experience for the orphans, who are between the ages of 1 and 12.

Another collection box is being set up in the lower lobby of Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West Street.

The effort is being made through the Friends of Kakamega (FoK), a Maine-based nonprofit organization that finances the Kakamega Orphan Care Centre Project. Since 2002, according to a pamphlet for the collection, the organization has partnered with Kenyan Quaker women to serve the needs of AIDS orphans and other at-risk children in the rural Kakamega community.

Items the girls are collecting include thin, metal knitting needles (size 2-6), crochet hooks, yarn, paintbrushes of various sizes, crayons, drawing paper of various sizes, soccer and volleyballs (durable, leather, deflated), pumps and needles, gently used medium to lightweight fleece pullovers for ages 6 to 18, new flat sheets, double or full, new bath and hand towels, and inspirational/nonfiction books.

The collection runs through July 20.

After learning about the FoK effort, Emily said, "I just felt like I had to go and do it."

She later spoke to Hanna, and Hanna offered to help.

Each of the 13 travelers are also fundraising to cover the expense of the trip, roughly $3,000 each. Emily and Hanna are collecting money online and through other efforts, like selling flower bouquets at Lathrop School of Dance's recent Stardust Revue. The girls will also be offering cookies at the upcoming Friends of the C.H. Booth Library Book Sale, they said, and are hoping for donations then. Donations can also be made for the travelers through Newtown Congregational Church.

For more information about Friends of Kakamega and the group's effort visits its website, friendsofkakamega.org.

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