Book Donations For The Children's First Academy
(formerly Thomas J Pappas School for Homeless Children)
Sponsored by the Western Science Fiction Association (WesternSFA)

The Children First Academy is a charter school with a goal to provide services directed toward homeless children in grades K-8. Their campuses in Tempe and Phoenix serve homeless children all over the Phoenix Valley with services that go beyond the responsibilities of regular schools by providing the children with services such as medical and dental assistance, clothing including socks and shoes, food, personal hygiene supplies, and school supplies. Additionally, they also try to make each child's birthday special since many of the children have never celebrated a birthday before coming to the school.


The Children First Academy is a charter school with a goal to provide services directed toward homeless children in grades K-8. Their campuses in Tempe and Phoenix serve homeless children all over the Phoenix Valley with services that go beyond the responsibilities of regular schools by providing the children with services such as medical and dental assistance, clothing including socks and shoes, food, personal hygiene supplies, and school supplies. Additionally, they also try to make each child's birthday special since many of the children have never celebrated a birthday before coming to the school.

The Children First Academy depends on community support from organizations and individuals in order to help the children. A "Wish List" can be found on the website under  What You Can Do. At each Phoenix-area convention at which WesternSFA is present there will be a specia l donation box near the Fan Table area. We will be collecting books to distribute to homeless children. This donation will place a book directly into the hands of a homeless child for them to keep. This is not a thrift store or a library. The age ranges vary, but we would particularly like to see juvenile fiction. Please take some time to clear your shelves and closets of unneeded books and help a child. We will take anything you bring - if you donate adult fiction, we have an agreement with a local bookseller to exchange adult fiction for juvenile fiction. So keep an eye out for the big Harry Potter donation box.

Our planned 2012 convention schedule includes
LepreCon 38 - April 6-8, 2012
CopperCon 32 -August 31 - September 3, 2012