For about five years, ALA Department of California member Christine Evans and ALA Unit 180 has had a great connection with Fort Irwin and the elementary school there. Evans’ passion is the Auxiliary’s Children & Youth program and wanting to get more involved in that area at the unit level, so she reached out to her contact at the school to see if there might be any children the unit could nominate for the Good Deed Award. That’s when Evans found out about the school tours.  
 
Lewis Elementary School is on the military base at Fort Irwin in California. The kids are involved in a program at their school, Anchored4Life, where they participate in monthly meetings, help with planning and implementing school service projects, and give tours to students who are brand new to their school. 
 
When a student arrives at the base, this group of seven children makes sure the military kids have a friend they can count on. They also play with the new students and introduce them to other children at the school. 
 
“I thought it was so interesting that these kids do this,” Evans said. “When a child arrives brand new to the school, these kids take them under their wings and show them around to their classes.” 
 
Evans and ALA Unit 180 nominated seven kids for a Good Deed award. 
 
Evans said she was happy and excited to nominate the children for the award and appreciated her unit’s support. 
 
“The kids were so excited to get the awards,” she said. 
 
For other units that may live near military bases, Evans offers simple advice on how to get connected for Good Deed Award nominations and more. 
 
“Get out and talk to people,” she said. “I’m really involved and get to know a lot of people. Ask at church, schools, community centers if there are any kids who deserve a Good Deed Award. There are a lot of bases people can contact. I was blessed enough to call Fort Irwin and they picked up the phone.”