Joe Hill, Books for Keeps' treasurer, shares one of his favorite BFK stories. Thanks Joe!
On my way home from my book distribution shift at Winterville
Elementary this past May, I got caught behind the school bus and spent a good
20 minutes watching kids get dropped off at their bus stops.
Every one of them carried a bright yellow Books for Keeps tote
bag. Some of the smaller kids looked about as big as their bags. Some struggled a little under the weight of
12 big board books. But every child I
saw was wearing a huge smile.
As the kids ran home to show their parents their new books,
I tried to imagine as a parent what my reaction would be. I spent the morning with these children – I saw
how excited they all were about reading and comparing books with friends. They couldn’t wait to get home and share the
experience with their families. It’s exactly the kind of experience I hope my
own children will have in school. Most
of the time my kids don’t want to recount their school day with me, but when
they are excited enough about something to share, it is like winning the
lottery – and on this day, the parents of Winterville Elementary students hit
the jackpot along with their children.
It’s easy to forget during the rest of the year what the
payoff is for Books for Keeps’ program.
Most of the rest of the year is spent in meetings, hundreds of phone
calls, thousands of emails, fundraising events, book drives, and sweating in
the warehouse. I block out several days on my calendar to be a part of the
volunteer shifts at the schools, because that is where you witness the joy as children
find great books that ignite their imaginations.
