This year our chapel virtue presentation was on the topic of generosity. We decided that we wanted to try a new and different approach, and we are so glad we did.

One day this fall, we read a book in class about a little remote town in Colombia where many years ago a teacher started a mobile library for kids who did not have any books. Our children found it hard to believe that there could be other kids who did not have the money to buy books. That is when the idea came alive!

After doing some research we found out that right in our own backyard we have an organization that provides literacy to children in our area, Cops -N- Kids. This organization provides community events, book reading sessions, and free books to children.

After our initial visit to our local Cops -N- Kids chapter in South Bethlehem, the children were very motivated and excited to embark into this journey. With no hesitation, a lot of questions, and a single goal: to collect 320 books we kicked off our book drive on October 21st.

We brainstormed together and we came up with different ways to get books: MABC presentations, visit each grade and request books, talk to parents and extended families, visit neighbors, etc.

We knew we were working for a great cause but at the same time we also wanted it to be an educational and fun journey for the children. We tied this honorable cause to our curriculum. We had the children practice public speaking, math concepts, brainstorming in small groups, and culminating with a personal reflection.

Soon after we started, it became very apparent that the children had taken this very seriously. Books started pouring into our classrooms in large numbers. They kept bringing and bringing more and more books. Families from other grades also contributed, and it didn’t go unnoticed by our second graders; they were perceptive of how our community got involved.

At the end, we surpassed our goal. We ended up collecting 1,243 books! To us, that in itself was a great accomplishment. The children were very proud of their efforts and the results, and rightfully so. However, for us, the biggest accomplishment at the end of this project is the personal life lesson that each child got by working on this project.

On behalf of our second grade team, we thank you for any and all help you provided to our project.