×

Santa’s Bookbag is truly a community effort

To the editor:

This year’s Santa’s Bookbag project was very successful due to the hard work and generosity of many people. Working with The Sentinel, the Salvation Army and local Community Christmas Project, we provided books at Christmas for 620 children.

Each child received one new and many used books. A special thanks to the Mifflin County School District who, through the support of principals and administrators, allowed us to conduct a book drive in the schools. The Title 1 Language Arts teachers and many classroom teachers helped make the book drive a success. Special thanks to Diane Shearer and the Association of Mifflin County Educators for their help.

Many schools conducted highly successful book drives. The Mifflin County High School National Honor Society and Key Club helped to clean and sort books as did members of the Choir and Cantore. Thanks to their advisers, Sonya Riden, Randy Fluke and Sherry Morgan for coordinating these efforts. The young people who donated books and helped are to be commended. They represent the very best in our schools for compassion and going above and beyond during a very busy season.

The following students from Mifflin County Junior High and Mifflin County High School helped: Aaron Wagner, David Wagner, Katelyn Sheetz, Caleb Yoder, Sidney Barlett, Hailee Weader, Ralie Goss, Selena Breneman, Kathryn Milliken, Chloe Buchanan, Mady Knepp, Alex Fleck, Juniel Lugo Garcia, Bryn Ferguson, Bridget Allison, Bella Retherford, Regan Traxler, Rylie Traxler, Nicholas Smith, Hannah Sutton, Hailey Hughes, Taylor Wilson, Emily Shilling, Jesse Krepps, Amber Schifano, Allyssa Schnell, Abbie Treaster, McKenna Smith, Jenna Arnold, Alicia Berryman, Megan Harshbarger, Raven Trego, Kayli Becker, Allison Prendergast, Rylie Rittenhouse, Cassidy Fleisher, Demma Franklin, Briana Hummel, Alyssa Strausberg, Ross Cottrill, David Staronka, Hayley Corson, Abby Moon, Ella Spriggle, Abby Traxler, Bailey Kibe, Isaac MaClay, Raya Kenepp, Kylie Wakefield, Morgan Shawver, Camryn Warnick, Hannah Diehl, Hayley Fultz, Ally Clark, Kaitlyn Snyder, Allison Aultz, Sabrina Winn, Bennett Andrews, Julian Jackson, Andrew Willard, Zach Burke, Joel Predix, Taylor Vaughn, Anna Ream, Clarissa McConaughey, Skyler Wright, Zoey Clouser, Katrina Groce, Victoria Hassinger, Alayna Spriggle, Eric Foltz, Madison Amspacker, Eden Parks, Mackenzie Wagner, Briah Kliny, Danelle Osborne, Amanda Foltz, Madison Shoemaker, Alyssa Hanford, Chloe Everly, Hannah Fitzgerald, Presley Riden, Vanessa Barron, Andrew Larson, Nick Smith, Logan Peachey, Mason Snyder, Kathryn Milliken, Andrew Montgomery, Jackelyn Fultz, Emily Bielski, James Bair, Quinn Parson, Addie Parson, Kevin Neavling, Lindsey Fallon, Garrett Hall, Jamie Mahigel, Mackenzie Fultz, Elizabeth Daubert, Fern Silfies, Olive Gisham, Aaron Kanagy, Malachi Brought, Katherine Kline, Emma Kerstetter, Taylor Seachrist, Emily Lefevre and Emily Shilling.

Many students helped on multiple occasions and are exemplary representatives of their school.

The following individuals helped to clean, sort, and match books: Carol Reardon, Beth Knepp, Margie Zook, Karen Shelato, Carol Dill, Barbara Nielsen, Linda Dalby, Cindy Hefferan, Steve Rynkewitz, Darlene Rynkewitz, Sue Burns, Marianne Hornyak, Gloria Richards, Jean Abbott, Doris Hidlay, Tangeline Sechrist, Allyson Cahill, Kevin Cahill, Janie Freed, Joan Loewen, Linda Fisher, Deb Kerstetter, Jennifer Hepner, Nancy Aurand, Dottie Peiffer, Joan Romig, Kim Aurand, Kathy Hartley, Sheryl George, Beth Lambert, Noah Miller, Doug Parson, and Seth Yearick.

There were others who helped and did not sign a list. Thank you!

A special thanks to Karen Galbraith for her help in setting up a computer information system and coordinating the printing of labels and lists. Thanks to Linda Dalby, Mary Jo Everhart, Bob Long and Donna Thomas who tirelessly typed the information labels.

Bernelda Winer worked during the summer from her home taking price tags off our new books and taught us everything we know about cleaning books and mending books. Sadly Bernelda recently passed away. She was an inspiration to all who knew her and had a passion for making sure children had books to read.

Special thanks to Diane Hallinan and Doris Hidlay who helped purchase and coordinate books throughout the year. Their knowledge of what books young people enjoy is a wonderful gift they give our community. Appreciation to Kathryn Wisegarver who keeps our records very accurate and is our treasurer.

Special thanks to Diane Wheeler for assisting with coordinating thank you letters. We did not mail fundraising letters this year feeling the same people are asked for every fundraiser in our community. We hoped the ads in The Sentinel and the Alternative Gift fair would be enough support. Please know we need funds. Books are getting more and more expensive. We welcome your contribution which can be sent to The Sentinel or Grace United Methodist Church on Logan Street.

A special thanks to Valerie Baker who selected an amazing variety of books for young people through a donation from the Association of Mifflin County Educators.

Without the support and dedication of the Mifflin County Chapter of PA School Retirees, this project would not be successful. Thanks to my family who year after year work in all the jobs of Santa’s Bookbag.

Thanks to Grace United Methodist Church for allowing us to use their community room to sort, clean and match books. The tremendous cooperation and support from Grace Church members and Rev. Rick Bender are truly appreciated. Special thanks to Kasey Staronka, adviser, and the Junior and Senior High Youth for their help with clean up.

A special thanks Ed Williams, Ruth Eddy and the entire Sentinel staff for their continued support, particularly for the transportation of the books to First United Methodist Church in Lewistown. A special thanks to Cassie Campbell for help at the Alternative Gift Fair.

Thanks to Giant Foods in Lewistown who donated plastic bags. The Salvation Army coordinated the list of children to receive books as part of the Community Christmas Project. Margie Smith and Helen Searer and First United Methodist Church in Lewistown did the final matching of books with other presents for children. This is truly a community effort.

A final thanks to those who made monetary donations to the program. Monetary donations can still be mailed to Ruth Eddy at The Sentinel. These donations help us purchase books for the 2017 effort. With the cost of books rising additional funds will be needed. It is our opinion that giving a child a book might be the first vital step in promoting a lifetime of literacy.

Lauren Grego

Santa’s Bookbag

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

[vivafbcomment]

Starting at $3.92/week.

Subscribe Today