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Published by www.EPlusPromotes.com www.TheCatoctinBanner.com The Catoctin Banner Newspaper August 2018 Page 27
Local Churches Promote Summer Reading with Book
Drive
Rev. Bob Kells
The last day of Courtesy Photo donated book bags.
school is always The response was
filled with excitement tremendous. We
for the students collected enough
of Sabillasville books that first
Elementary School, year that each
as they prepare to kindergartner got
head out for their to take home seven
summer break. books.
For the past four After the first
years, several local year, the book drive
churches have made grew to cover the
this an extra special entire school. We
time by bringing got some additional
the children books support from
to read over the Deerfield UMC in
summer. Sabillasville, who
It started in 2015 agreed to cover
when I joined the the kindergarten
school’s volunteer books, while two
program, along with Pictured from left: (standing) Pastor Ray Dudley (Deerfield UMC), Pastor Bob Kells (Weller other churches from
several members UMC), Par Alexander, Henry Alexander, Joan Staub, Jim Monroe; (kneeling at table) SES nearby Rocky Ridge
from Weller UMC Principal Kate Krietz; and four Sabillasville Elementary students. joined in to collect
in Thurmont where books for the other
I am the pastor. Volunteers at and is fun for the children, who look grades. Once again, the results were
Sabillasville work with the children forward to working with the adults. impressive. On the last day of school,
for an hour or more each week. In the spring of 2015, I was each of the 120 children received
We help them with reading and volunteering with the kindergarten a Lions Club book bag and three
math, and whatever other tasks the class. Summer was approaching books of their choice.
teachers have for them. The work is and, as their teacher shared with me, The school book drive is fast
personally fulfilling for the volunteers summer is a time when the children becoming an annual tradition for
are at risk of losing ground in many these churches and the school they
of the skills they developed during support. This year, all of the children
the year. Reading is one of those received three or four books; pencils
skills. I also learned some of the and stickers; a book bag; and a card
children do not have many books from the churches, wishing them a
to read at home. That last piece of good summer and “Happy Reading!”
information got me thinking that this Not only is the book drive helping
was something the church could help with the school, but Deerfield UMC
with. has begun hosting a luncheon for the
After talking it over with teachers and staff at Sabillasville at
Sabillasville Elementary School the start of the school year. “It’s a
Principal Kate Kreitz, I asked our great time for the teachers to relax,
Missions Team to organize a book to unwind, and to just socialize
drive for the kindergarten class. before classes start,” said Deerfield’s
The Thurmont Lions Club, which pastor, Ray Dudley.
I joined the year before, has as one The teachers help to shape the
of its missions to promote literacy. lives of the children to make the
The Lions Club pitched in and world a better place. By serving a
luncheon, Deerfield shares the love of
Jesus in the community.
The book drive and the teachers’
luncheon are just two ways local
churches can give to the community.
Both keep the churches engaged
with their communities, and both
contribute to the education of the
children.
The children are the focus of
these efforts. My hope and prayer is
that they receive more than just the
books. My hope and prayer is they’ll
remember that in addition to their
teachers and administrators, they
have local churches that love them
with the love of Jesus and want to
see them to succeed—in school and
in life.
