Mastic - At the Mastic-Moriches-Shirley Community Library, Congressman Tim Bishop joined library officials, members of the U.S. Armed Forces and local veterans in shipping audiobooks donated by the Library to wounded warriors at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. New York State Senator Brian Foley, Brookhaven Town Supervisor Mark Lesko, and Suffolk County Legislator Kate Browning also attended the event.

Library staff member Liz Stokes initiated the donation effort at the suggestion of retired U.S. Army Major General Anthony Kropp and his son, Iraq War veteran U.S. Army Sergeant Tim Kropp. Once the donation was finalized, Stokes and Kropp contacted Congressman Bishop, who arranged for the 75 boxes of audiobooks to be shipped from Mastic Library to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC via UPS at no cost.

"I couldn't think of a better corporate donation on the part of UPS than to provide these materials, that have been donated by a community organization with the help of people in all aspects of the community, to help entertain and to help ease the burden of our wounded warriors," said Congressman Bishop. "I'm glad that we were able to do it."

At the event, Bishop participated in a "bucket brigade" to load the boxes from the Library's entrance onto a waiting UPS truck. The packages are expected to arrive at Walter Reed within the week. Stokes is also in negotiation with Best Buy and P.C. Richard and Sons to secure portable cassette players for the wounded warriors to listen to the audiobooks.

"Many of our heroes are lying in hospitals and have yet to come home from different shores where they're fighting for our freedoms. It is from that passion and love for America and the good of the community that this idea really came," said Liz Stokes.

"There's no doubt that our wounded military members in uniform will appreciate this effort," Major General Kropp said.

Bishop also accepted handwritten thank-you letters and keepsake items from inmates at Suffolk County Correctional Facility to be hand-delivered to Walter Reed patients.