Happy New Year!
Steve Boies, Lorrie Stapleton and Doug Francefort at the Greenwich Recycling Book Swap
Julio Reinoso at a Bassick High book fair
Gerhard Peter and his trusted sidekick, Myrna
Happy New Year! We are very pleased to report that we delivered 41,614 gently books this year, bringing our 3 year total to over 122,000 books! The 96,000 kids books have gone to 102 schools and homeless shelters, and 26,000 adult books were delivered to 30 senior centers and community organizations. All of the recipients were thrilled with the books and it was lots of fun to share some of their amazing stories in these posts.
We want to thank all of our book donors for their continuing generosity. 65% of our books come from Greenwich residents who drop books at the recycling center's Book Swap, 16% are from Darien Book Aid, and the rest come from a growing list of wonderful school librarians and community organizations including Greenwich Country Day School, Cos Cob Library, Wilton Library, Darien Boy Scouts, New Canaan Library, Perrot Library, Convent of the Sacred Heart, Book Smart, Greenwich Academy, Mead School, Central Middle School, Daniel Warren School, Julian Curtiss School, Mamaroneck French American High School, Greenwich Junior League, Neighbor to Neighbor, and Scarsdale Woman's Club.
None of this would be possible without Julio Reinoso who coordinates all of our Bridgeport contacts and deliveries, and Gerhard Peter who maintains libraries at 16 senior centers, nursing homes and medical centers. He delivered 7,500 books this year for a total of over 21,000 since 2015.
Some of my favorite artwork
How cute is this? We dropped off books to Michael Ribas, the Classroom Coordinator at Care Around the Clock daycare center. In the lobby we were thrilled by his wonderful drawings of his favorite children's book covers.
Introducing Groundwork Bridgeport
Groundwork Bridgeport is going to distribute our books through some of their excellent community programs that aim to convert the blighted areas of Bridgeport. Many thanks to Christina Smith, Executive Director, and Tanner Burgdorf, Program Coordinator did all the heavy lifting.
Since its inception in 1998, Groundwork Bridgeport’s main goal has been to convert blighted areas of the city into gardens, parks, playgrounds, and other open spaces that instill pride in the community. To accomplish these goals, the organization develops education, community service, and other programming as a means of improving the quality of life for all people in Bridgeport. Groundwork Bridgeport’s programs primarily serve and impact populations in Bridgeport that are marginalized and lacking readily accessible resources. Visit them at https://www.groundworkbridgeport.org/
Many thanks to the Boy Scouts!
Love those CLC kids!
Congratulations and best wishes to Thelma Peoples
Davenport Ridge in Stamford has a brand new media center!
Three libraries come through for the Bridgeport Lighthouse Program
Thanks to Caitlin and Jack
High Horizons and the Multicultural Magnet School
Thomas Hooker School is hosting a Literacy night
Thanks to the Friends of Cos Cob Library
Robotics for Lee Y Seras
Lets get those books moving!
Thanks to Darien Book Aid
Darien Book Aid continues to provide us with great books for distribution locally, but their primary focus is sending books abroad to Peace Corps volunteers. They send hundreds of boxes to every corner of the world and it is great fun to volunteer there and fill the requests. Anyone is welcome to help out during any one of the 5 two hour volunteer sessions weekly, which are listed on their website.
