Books Make It Better ~ Washington's Charity Champions ~ 3,154 books and COUNTING!

3,154 Books and Counting!

 As I sit to reflect on the amazing journey that the Books Make It Better has taken me on, I can't help but feel proud of the wonderful community that I call home.  

 So far, the charity champions in our community have collected over

  3,154 books

 and counting to distribute to those in need.  As I traveled through this amazing adventure, I became aware of other foundations and groups that are doing amazing things in service to others.  They have inspired my family and I to help more, love abundantly, look deeper for those who need, and be thankful for much.

The families and staff from Evergreen Christian School daily filled the Books Make It Better Bins in the school office. 

ECS's mission is to LOVE, PARTNER, TEACH, GUIDE and INSPIRE

The constant flood of books from staff, current students and alumni was a reminder that they strive to fulfill it's mission by helping gather books for the needy and doing much more for the community.  I loved hearing stories from parents of their children going through their bookshelves with the hope of blessing another child.  Those beautiful stories inspired me each day!

The Olympian Newspaper printed a story about the BMIB Books Drive and the community got involved!

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/11/01/1860607/local-educator-is-trying-to-collect.html

Phone calls, emails and book drop offs were a happy daily activity.
From the newspaper article, an angel named Paul stopped by Evergreen Christian School to drop off books and to tell me about a special group of charity champions in Chehalis, named the Lend a Helping Hand Foundation. He told me about this wonderful foundation who had books to donate to the book drive.....a truck full! I didn't understand at the time why he wanted someone from ECS to pick up the books, not another organization. I guess I needed to see for myself what this foundation did for the community.  On Veteran's Day, my kids and I got our van cleaned out and ready and drove to Chehalis ready to pick up books.

Chehalis, Washington

Lend a Helping Hand Foundation was started in 1974 to help families in need.  Its base of operations is in Lewis County, Washington, one of the most economically depressed counties in the state. As people have fallen on hard times, losing their jobs and homes, they have received more calls for help.  They are new serving a much greater area stretching from Thurston County to Cowlitz County, from the Cascades to the coast.

The largest program in the Clara Claus Christmas Program.  Through this program, they provide disabled and disadvantaged children with happy Christmas memories.  These children are given gifts of brand new clothes to last them until the end of the school year, books of their own, toys, and a huge stocking filled with personal products, fun items, and school supplies.  They also try to fulfill special requests such as running shoes for a child involved in Special Olympics.

One of the many "gift" rooms at Lend a Helping Hand Foundation

As Kody, Maddie and I walked through the front doors at the Foundation, our mouths dropped open! We thought we had stepped into Santa's Village.  Room after room was filled with wrapped presents....busy retirees were organizing and wrapping gifts.  The foundation works year round, 12 hours a day and is all volunteer run.  We were immediately enveloped into the love and family of this amazing Foundation.  Our arms were filled with books, boxes loaded to the top with beautiful books and we listened to story after story of the children who benefited from the generosity.

Kody and Maddie loved meeting the ladies and hearing their  life stories.

Seeing my children as they talked with the volunteers, loaded my vans full of books and walked through the rooms of gifts, my heart swelled with pride as they repeated the words, "WOW! This is amazing!" and "I love this!"  I couldn't think of a better day than to spend a life-changing Veteran's Day with the heroes at the Lend a Helping Hand Foundation and my kids.

They will forever hold a special place in my heart and I can't wait to help them as they helped me....by them donating to the book drive, I hope to help build much needed shelves for their three books rooms.....more to come!

I wish I took a photo of my office in the preschool department before the day of "sorting".  I felt like I was in an episode of Hoarders! The wall of books kept growing and usable preschool office space was quickly shrinking.  It was a great "problem" to have.  My 15 year old's job each day after high school was to check the bins at the school and church.  Every day, bins were FILLED and he thought someone was playing a joke on him by filling them so much! We are truly blessed.

The day of sorting was upon us! I enlisted the help of my daughter, Maddie, and her amazing friends after school.  After filling up on pizza and Pepsi, we were ready to take on the mountain of books!

Books were put on tables marked "Birth to five" "Children's Books" "Teens" and "Adults"...we ran out of table space and had to also use the floor.

Maddie, Ashley, Bella and Grace ~ Busy Book Brigade

Taylor helping organize and count the adult books

Piles of books to count

After hours of sorting, counting, piling, boxing and laughing, we were ready to load our vans with boxes of books.  One carload of books traveled to Joint Base Lewis McChord Pediatrics Department.  It was a honor to bless the military families that give so much of their lives to our country. 

My van load headed to the South Sound Reading Foundation in Lacey, Washington.   

In an effort to increase the number of children entering school prepared to learn, read and succeed, the South Sound Reading Foundation exists to ensure that every child is read with 20 minutes a day starting at birth. Reading just 20 minutes a day with young children is the key to healthy brain development, family bonding, and success in school.

Little did I know that their book warehouse was getting low on books going into the holiday season.  They said that we were their "book angels" that they were hoping for! The South Sound Reading Foundation provides books to homeless and needy children.  They believe books provide strength and stability that sets up a child for success in school and life. 

My van was FILLED with books

I pulled my van next to the Book Van and we began to unload our treasures...straight into their van.

I am so excited to partner with the South Sound Reading Foundation again! They are amazing people who love children and are passionate about literacy.


I am still traveling on this amazing journey with Books Make It Better.  I have a special delivery of books to our regional division of Reach Out and Read and teachers at a local school through Evergreen Christian Community's Hands and Feet Community Outreach.

I am also excited to be a part of The Books Make It Better Book Virtual Book Drive.

Help Make a Difference: Join the Books Make It Better “THIRTY BY THANKSGIVING” Challenge!

We are challenging individuals, and businesses, in our communities to step forward in support of children in our communities and make a book donation, or Sponsor a Child. It only takes a few dollars — and a few books — to make a big difference in the life of families in need.  

Did you know that it costs only $50 to sponsor a child for the full 5-year Reach out and Read Program? This includes 2 books per year, physician literacy training, and tools for parents to support reading at home.

TAKE THE BOOKS MAKE IT BETTER CHALLENGE TODAY! Make Your Donation Here and include “Thirty By Thanksgiving” in the Notes section of your donation.

Through the other "supermommas" from Mom Congress, I am excited to hear about what other states are doing with their Book Drive.

 
I am so thankful for this wonderful opportunity and adventure.  I am inspired by the many charity champions in my community, state, nation and the world.  I can't wait to update this blog on the evolution of the Books Make It Better Book Drive in the months to come....I know it has just begun!

"Never worry about numbers.  Help one person at a time, and always start with the person nearest you."  ~Mother Teresa

As a preschool teacher, there is no greater job that watching a child fully immersed into a good book. It is fun to make a story "come alive" and stimulate the GREATEST entertainment center.....a child's imagination!   I make sure to include many books in my curriculum to read to reinforce the theme/concept that our preschoolers are learning that day.  Books that inform, books that tell history, books that help reinforce proper behavior and books that make you giggle are a few of my favorite kinds of books that I love to read to the kids. 

 

One of my "classic" books that I read to my preschool students is the "Animal Alphabet" book by Mary Rice Hopkins.  http://www.maryricehopkins.com  

This beautifully illustrated book teaches the letters of the alphabet and associates them with animals that children love.  Mary Rice Hopkins also has music that accompanies her books, so we have fun singing the Animal Alphabet song as we read the book.  Children show their "thumbs up" when we reach a letter that is in their name.   It is key to help engage all learning styles; visual, auditory and kinestetic while teaching and this book involves all three.

Washington State Books Make It Better is benefiting some amazing areas in our local and international community! 

 We are partnering with Evergreen Christian Community Outreach, Hands and Feet to put books in the hands of families that are going through hardships. 

Find out more about Evergreen Christian Community Hands and Feet, click on the link below:

http://www.ecconline.cc/#/connectclasses/causes 

We have also adopted a school in our community to help with their literacy needs. 

 Washington State Reach Out and Read is an active and successful program in the state and we are so thrilled to partner with their cause.  http://www.reachoutandreadwa.org/  Also,  Dr. Kelly Blair based out of Joint Base Lewis/McCord will be connecting BMIB books with areas of need in our close military community.  He is also requesting books to be sent to Africa on the Mercy Ships.  http://www.mercyships.org/pages/about-us

Thank you for donating and supporting Washington State Books Make It Better!

Books Make It Better ~ Book Drive

Books Make It Better Book Drive has begun!

It is amazing to reflect back on that wonderful Tuesday night in April in Washington DC.  After a MOM CONGRESS day filled with information and fellowship, we gathered at Hook for a farewell dinner.

There, fellow delegates from Oregon and California planned a "westcoast" movement....yet to be decided!  Jen, Cushon and I wanted to continue the mom-powered momentum of progress back to our home states.

Little did we realize the exciting opportunity that would develop......

During the summer, Jen Barth shared with us the success and joy that her local book drive produced last fall.  Thus, BOOKS MAKE IT BETTER was born!

Why books and literacy?  

According to Read Out and Read:

• Children who live in print-rich environments and who are read to during the first years of life are much more likely to learn to read on schedule.
• Reading aloud to young children is not only one of the best activities to stimulate language and cognitive skills; it also builds motivation, curiosity, and memory.
• Early language skills, the foundation for reading ability and school readiness, are based primarily on language exposure - resulting from parents and other adults talking to young children.
• Research shows that the more words parents use when speaking to an 8-month-old infant, the greater the size of their child's vocabulary at age 3. The landmark Hart-Risley study on language development documented that children from low-income families hear as many as 30 million fewer words than their more affluent peers before the age of 4.
• Books contain many words that children are unlikely to encounter frequently in spoken language. Children's books actually contain 50% more rare words than primetime television or even college students conversations.
• The nurturing and one-on-one attention from parents during reading aloud encourages children to form a positive association with books and reading later in life.
• Reading aloud is a proven technique to help children cope during times of stress or tragedy.
• Reading difficulty contributes to school failure, which increases the risk of absenteeism, leaving school, juvenile delinquency, substance abuse, and teenage pregnancy - all of which perpetuate the cycles of poverty and dependency.
• 20% of U.S. workers are functionally illiterate.

Most American Parents NOT Reading to Children

• Fewer than half (48%) of young children in the U.S. are read to daily, meaning that more than 13 million children under 5 go to bed every night without a bedtime story.
• The percentage of children read to daily drops even lower (to 36%) among low-income families, whose children face the highest risk of literacy problems. Even among high-income families, however, more than 2 out of every 5 children are not read to daily.

So why aren't more parents reading aloud to their children?

• Families living in poverty often lack the money to buy new books, as well as access to libraries. In fact, 61% of low-income families have no children's books in their homes.
• Parents who may not have been read to as children themselves may not realize the tremendous value of reading to their own children.
• Low literacy rates are not just the result of economic poverty; they are also the result of time poverty, something that affects nearly every parent in our country. Responsibilities at work, community activities, the television, and video games all make it difficult to carve out time for a parent and child to sit down together to read a favorite book.

What can YOU do to help???

This Fall, we’re collecting books from October 3-November 4 on behalf of the following local services:

Evergreen Christian Community Outreach

Reach Out and Read

US Military: Joint Base Lewis/McCord

WHAT WE NEED: If you can help in any of the following areas, Contact Renee Berry at 360.951.9697 or at renee@ecsonline.cc to get involved.

• Donating gently used, or new children’s books. As our focus is on early literacy, most of the books we will gather to distribute are Board Books, Picture Books, Alphabet/Counting Books, Rhyming Books, and Early Chapter Books. Spanish Books are very much needed, too!

• Helping collect books at your school, office, or community center. We will provide signs, guidelines, & more

• Sponsoring or donating books on behalf of your company. Consider a  ”book donation match” for books gathered by employees, or purchase favorite childhood books on behalf of team members, clients, or in lieu of holiday gifts this year.

• “Book Brigade” members to assist in gathering books at the end of the book drive (Friday, November 4)

The books are COMING :) 

As of today, we have gathered 372 books!

I hope to reach our goal of 1,000 books by November 4th.

Thank You!

Day 5 ~ Anti-Bully Week at ECS ~ Let's Run the Race..together!

On day 5 of Anti-bully week at Evergreen Christian School, students showed their unity by wearing GREEN.

 This week, COURAGE IN ACTION was the challenge and students committed themselves to it.  It will be exciting to see and hear the fruits of the anti-bullying education.  If anything, students and parents know that ECS is a safe place to grow, learn, share and discover.

After school, staff, alumni and parents participated in the Bruce Newman Memorial Run. The life and legacy of track coach and teacher, Bruce Newman, was celebrated with a race.  It was a beautiful and HOT evening that was filled with smiles, healthy competition and fellowship.  As I stood and cheered the runners on, a beautiful verse came to mind....

“…. since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.” Hebrews 12:1-3

The hope of our children and their education is that they are able to "run the race together"  filled with support, love and without fear of bullying.

Day 4 ~ Let's Read about Anti-Bullying ~

On Day 4, at the Evergreen Christian School campus, Chaplain Chrissy Najarro visited classrooms to read the book, My Secret Bully.

My Secret Bully

Foreword by Susan Wellman, founder, The Ophelia Project

The Secret's Out On Bullying

A touching, inspirational story targeted for 5- to 11-year-olds, My Secret Bullyinstantly draws young readers into Monica's world where she is bullied by a friend and learns how to cope and thrive. Relational aggression is an act of emotional bullying hidden among tightly knit networks of friends. Instead of using knives and fists to bully others, emotional bullies employ relationships, words, and gestures as their weapons of attack. Emotional bullying is often dismissed as a normal rite of passage, but research shows it is as harmful as physical aggression, with devastating, long-term effects.

Name-calling, humiliation, exclusion, and manipulation are some bullying tactics Monica's friend Katie employs. Monica learns to face her fears of betrayal and social isolation and reclaims her power from the bully with the help of a supportive adult - her mother. Included in this wonderful resource for children, parents, teachers, and counselors are helpful tips, discussion questions, and additional information.

Listed below are more books to help children learn about what to do in cases of bullying:  

• Arthur's April Fool by Marc Brown
• Blubber by Judy Blume
• Dealing with Bullying by Marianne Johnston
• Nobody Knew What To Do by Becky R. McCain
• Stop Picking On Me by Pat Thomas
• The Berenstain Bears and the Bully by Stan Berenstain
• Why Is Everybody Always Picking on Me? A Guide to Understanding Bullies for Young People by Terrence Webster-Doyle

• Amelia Takes Command by Marisa Moss
• Bullies Are a Pain in the Brain by Trevor Romain
• Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes
• Cockroach Cooties by Laurence Yep
• Mean, Mean Maureen Green by Judy Cox
• Pinky and Rex and the Bully by James Howe
• Talking About Bullying by Jillian Powell
• Thank you, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco
• The Hundred Dresses by E. Estes
• The Rat and the Tiger by Keiko Kasza

Anti-Bullying Resource Information

More than half of all kids are

directly involved in bullying

1. Talk with and listen to your kids - everyday. If your children feel comfortable talking to

you before they’re involved in a bullying event, they’re more likely to talk to you after.

2. Spend time at school and recess. Sixty-seven percent of bullying happens when adults

are not present. You can make a real difference by volunteering on campus.

3. Be a good example of kindness and leadership. Any time you speak to another person

in a mean or abusive way, you’re teaching your child that bullying is ok.

4. Learn the signs. Learn to recognize possible signs of being victimized and if you

suspect that a child might be bullied, talk directly to your child about the situation.

5. Create healthy anti-bullying habits early. As early as kindergarten it will help to role

play what to do (and what not to do) in bullying situations with your child.

6. Help your child’s school address bullying effectively. Whether your children have been

bullied or not, you should learn about what their school is doing to address bullying.

Here are 10 things you can do to help.

7. Establish household rules about bullying. Your children need to know your

expectations of how they treat others and how others treat them.

8. Teach your child how to be a good witness. Although it’s never a child’s responsibility

to put himself or herself in danger, kids can often effectively diffuse a bullying situation.

9. Teach your child about cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is as harmful as physical violence

and must not be tolerated.

10. Spread the word that bullying should NOT be a “normal part of childhood”. All forms

of bullying are harmful to the perpetrator, the victim, and to witnesses.

Bullying is a big problem but if we all work together,

it’s one we can impact.

For more information about bullying and additional detail about the actions on

this list, please visit www.education.com.

Day 3 ~ Chapel Day ~ What does God say about Bullying

~ Day 3 ~ Evergreen Christian School Anti-Bully Week ~

Wednesday was ECS Chapel day and the students gathered in the church for an all-school chapel.

Pastor Landers ROCKED the house with his kids. He led the students in worship to the Lord. My daughter was enthralled with the BONGOS and how you can lift your voice to God even with the beat of a drum!

The focus of the chapel was education on Anti-Bullying.  ECS Chaplain, Chrissy Najarro, answered "what a bully IS" and 'what a Bully IS NOT."

A bully is NOT someone that you argue with once....in the classroom...out at recess.

A bully is someone that you have never done something to, but are REPEATEDLY attacked over and over.

________________________________________

What does God's Word say that we should do??

Joshua 1:9

New International Version (NIV)

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

This verse helps us to be courageous to do the right thing....even when you are afraid.
_____________________________________

Chaplain Najarro explained that her prayer for the campus at ECS is, "That everyone at this school have a good friend and that all students LIVE OUT courage in ACTION."

Conflict or Bullying??? THAT is the question! Day 2 ~ Anti-Bully Week at ECS

It is Day 2 of Anti-Bully week at Evergreen Christian School.  I have LOVED seeing kids around campus proudly wearing their green COURAGE IN ACTION AT ECS bracelets.

I decided to be a roving reporter, (something I have always wanted to do) and hit the pavement.....recess pavement.  I wanted to talk with kids in action to find out what they thought about this week and the topic of bullying.  

When asked the question, "Have you ever been bullied?" I heard a resounding "YES!!!" from many in the groups.  When bullied, the kids said that they felt....

threatened

mad

sad  

"So.....what has worked?" I asked the kids....

"Telling the bully to stop"      "Teaching them a lesson about not bullying"      "Telling a teacher or adult" 

As the day went on and I talked to more and more children, an interesting pattern revealed itself.  While I heard hurtful stories about bullying, I also was hearing stories about conflict.  This brought up an interesting question......

What is bullying and what is conflict???

What is Bullying?

Childhood Bullying

Bullying is unfair and one-sided. 

It happens when someone keeps hurting, frightening, threatening, or leaving someone out on purpose.

Some examples of bullying during childhood include: 

physical attacks, 

verbal attacks,

name calling,

ignoring, 

ganging up on one child, 

leaving someone out of a game or activity, 

making fun of a child for their differences, 

and more.

Children who bully may be former or current victims of bullying themselves. Both boys and girls use face-to-face and behind-the-back bullying behaviors. Boys tend to use more face-to-face behaviors, while girls tend to use more behind-the-back behaviors. Both are equally harmful to the victim of bullying. 

Bullying commonly increases between the third and seventh grades.

What is Conflict?

It's important to distinguish between bullying and conflict.

Conflict is a disagreement that happens when people want different things. It is a normal part of human interaction. The people involved in a conflict have equal power to solve the problem. They can work it out together. They are not purposely trying to hurt each other. 

Conflict may be uncomfortable but it does not hurt.

As a parent/teacher/student it is important to recognize the difference between conflict and bullying.

_________________________________________________________________

Evergreen Christian School's principal, Cyndi Pollard states that, 

"ECS’s anti-bullying policy gives our students the courage to tell someone that they are being bullied with the confidence that they will get help and equipping to be the help to someone being bullied.

Come to our chapel on Wednesday and learn the difference in conflict and bullying."

I am so glad that the conversation has been started on our campus! Day 2 has brought a confidence to students that they have the courage to stand up against bullying.  When asked what their green COURAGE IN ACTION AT ECS bracelets meant to them, one boy stated, "If I wear it, I know that I am reminded that I won't be bullied."

My hope is that as day 3 moves to day 333, that each child on campus will realize that the COURAGE comes from within.  

My favorite question of the day was, "Are you glad that it is anti-bully week?"  The response was a LOUD and ENTHUSIASTIC YES!

_______________________________________

                                                                         Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear, for I am with you;

   do not be dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you and help you;

   I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.