GROUP'S BOOK PAYS TRIBUTE TO CARING KIDS; OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING FOCUS OF TOME.

Byline: Daily News

A woman who compiled more than 30,000 letters and drawings from children after the Oklahoma City bombing will be at Barnes & Noble Booksellers Valencia on Saturday to sign copies of her book, ``A Circle of Love.''

Frances Jones is co-founder of Feed the Children, an Oklahoma City-based hunger and disaster relief organization that offered aid after the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah federal building April 19, 1995.

Jones, who has traveled the world on behalf of children's causes, will be at Barnes & Noble at 7:30 p.m. The store is at 23630 Valencia Blvd.

``A Circle of Love'' is a book of letters, poetry and drawings sent in by children throughout the nation. Touching entries illustrate the young contributors' efforts to express their fears and grief and to comprehend what happened that morning in the heartland.

Jones collected those entries in the three weeks after the bombing.

``I would often pick up a handful, take them to the solitude of my office and read - and weep,'' Jones said. ``Children in church groups, school classrooms, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Brownies, athletic organizations and kids clubs, in cities from California to Maine, all wrote to offer encouragement to our hurting city.''

Since the release, Jones has spoken about the book through newspaper articles and television programs throughout the United States. ``The children encouraged me,'' she said. ``They gave me hope and spoke to the fears and emotions we all had during those days. They helped me to keep focused.''

Within hours of the bombing, Feed The Children picked up and distributed food, medicine, tools, equipment and other supplies so rescuers and other volunteers could concentrate on freeing survivors. As a result of its efforts, Feed The Children received many letters from around the country as well as letters that were addressed simply to ``The People of Oklahoma City.''

The 80-page book is divided into three sections, ``Here are Some Kind Words for You,'' ``Why?'' and ``I Know Now There is Good in the World.''

``This book shows that in times of need, others do care and are willing to lend a hand,'' Jones said. ``I believe this will inspire more of us to realize that sharing our compassion can make a difference in the healing process and that we can join efforts to protect and love our children.''

``A Circle of Love'' retails for $19.95. All proceeds will be used by Feed The Children's programs to help children who are victims of violence and disasters.

Jones and her husband, Larry, started Feed The Children in 1979. The group is an international, nonprofit, Christian organization providing food, clothing, medical equipment and other necessities to people who lack these essentials because of famine, drought, flood, war or other calamities. Feed The Children has distributed food and other necessities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and 74 foreign countries.