Book Buddies volunteers have been working feverishly to sort through all the books in the 22 huge boxes received in January, plus the books from local drives. Miraculously, we’ve done it! The entire shipment has been reduced to piles of cardboard, empty pallets, and lots of stacked, finished boxes ready to go out to schools for our big giveaway in May. Quite an accomplishment!
Lots of groups and individuals have pitched in to make this possible. Kappa Epsilon Psi military sorority, Reagan High School Honor Society, Valero Vanguard, members of Lions, and the Unitarian Universalist Church, along with individuals and even whole families came to sort, count, and box those books. It’s especially heart-warming to see parents and children working together to help at-risk children in the community — a great way to teach kids the value of doing something worthwhile for others. Thanks to everyone who put in the time to get those books ready.
The community book drives have not stopped. Green Valley Elementary School in Schertz once again held an impressive drive that produced over 800 books! Year after year Green Valley comes through for Book Buddies. ETS, also a loyal friend to Book Buddies, raised over 300 books — and sorted them! Additionally, our regular book aggregator from Boerne, Al Koppen, delivered another load of books this month.
This month SAYL Reading Buddies also came to Book Buddies World Headquarters to select books for the children they’ve been tutoring all year. Each child will receive three books at the last tutoring session to encourage them to read over the summer. In all, 3,285 books will be given out to 2nd grade students in the SAYL Reading Buddy Program.
Many thanks to everyone who worked on book drives, delivered books, and worked at Book Buddies sorting and boxing those books for transport to the schools. We hope to reach 8,000 children this year with books to take home and start their own libraries. You are fighting for literacy with every book and every volunteer hour!
Jane Welch, Book Buddies Coordinator
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