The temple built by Solomon may have had walls lined with cedar and gold, but the hallways of Western Hills United Methodist Church have boasted their own treasures lately. Church members began building bookcases for the pre-kindergarten students of Western Hills Primary School in January, lining the halls of the church as the bookcases accumulated.

Church member Ray Howe cut the plywood for the project; fellow member and retired engineer Gene Adams assembled the units. Together, they produced 102 bookcases. Youth from four United Methodist churches completed the painting stage of production during last Saturday's Day of Service--"a positive and energetic end to a massive building project," said Literacy Connexus participant Allison Blush.

Books for the Border and Beyond projects link churches to the people of communities in order to minister to those living in poverty. But sometimes other connections emerge. WHUMC pastor, Rev. Raul Gutierrez grew up in Brownsville, attending Cromack Elementary School. Cromack was one of eight schools that received bookcases in December, 2011, through Books for the Border and Beyond.