EAST ARCADIA — Elementary students at East Arcadia were all smiles and delight Wednesday afternoon as they had a chance to select books thanks to Book Harvest and the generosity of Duke Energy.
Sue Mills, Duke Energy’s public relations assistant, was there to share in the excitement.
“We are proud to partner with Book Harvest to expand the summer reading program,” she said. “Students in Bladen County experienced challenges due to flooding, and we are happy to send students off with books to fuel their imaginations all summer long.”
Duke Energy donated $10,000 to Book Harvest. The donated books were set up on tables in the library and students were able to pick 10 and take them home in a drawstring bag.
“These are set up like a a book fair,” said Daniele Berman, Book Harvest’s communications and events manager.
The program started in Durham and Orange County, in 2012 and 2013, and is working on expanding into more areas.
Berman said that this is about getting students books to start their own home libraries.
“It’s whatever that spurs them to read,” she said.
Reading retention is a difficult situation to address over the summer. Students have a tendency to regress in reading levels while out because they aren’t as stimulated.
“These kids might not have home libraries,” Berman said.
This self-selected book fair style event gives the children a chance to pick out books they are are interested in and also a chance to pick up a book that they may want to read with a big brother or sister. One student announced to the whole group about his big brother reading to him, explaining that his big brother was 9.
The students gathered on a rug, and listened as staff explained to them the game plan.
Books were available in Spanish and English, and the books were also divided by difficulty, allowing the kids to have a choice to pick anything from easiest readers to more complex chapter books, with hopes that the students would be able to share them with their family.
“I like to read books,” said India Thurman, one of the students.
“You are in the right place then,” said Amy Franks, with Book Harvest, who gave the students instructions.
Franks is the Education Partnerships manager and Isabel Geffner is the advancement director. Geffner translated everything into Spanish for the students that spoke primarily Spanish in the home. Franks also brought her mom and nephew out to help with distributing the books and bags.
Classes came in to the library and picked out 10 books to take home to read.
Alexandra Santos (left) picks out books with her classmate Jasmine Cruz.
Student Julio Schultz sorted through books and collected some to take home.
Sue Mills, a public relations assistant for Duke Energy, came out to present a $10,000 donation for the Book Harvest program.
Amy Franks and Isobel Geffner (not pictured) came from Book Harvest to distribute for Books on Break.
India Thurman was all smiles sharing her excitement about her summer finds. She says she likes to read books.