St. John's Students Deliver 760 Books

Taking to the streets of Healdsburg before 9 a.m. Thursday morning, St. John the Baptist School students delivered more than 700 books to the Healdsburg branch of the

This all-out act of giving was spurred by who serves on the United Way of Wine Country's board of directors.

“It’s a good time for the kids to understand that there are others who don’t have as much as they do,” said Wittke Schaffner. “It’s about sharing—and that’s what we tell the kids.

“This is one of those ‘teachable moments,’” she summed up.

The United Way of Wine Country has a three-pronged approach to help communities, health, education and income. Through their “Schools of Hope” program, they hope to provide children with books of their own at home. According to Stacy Ruppert, director of marketing for United Way, studies show that students with no books at home fair ill during summer vacation, losing important reading skills.

“Today is the opening of the United Way book drive,” Ruppert said.

“Last year we gathered about 5000 books. This year my goal is 10,000.”

Children in rural and low-income areas of the county will receive three to five books each through the Sonoma County Bookmobile.

Cody Baker, who is in charge of the Healdsburg branch participation, seemed just as excited as the children delivering the books.

“Giving back to the community is a core value of the Exchange Bank,” said Baker. “We’ve had a relationship for years with the United Way.

“This is one more little thing we can do throughout the year,” she said.

This is the second year of the book drive, which will last through June 21. Most Sonoma County Exchange Bank branches provide a drop-off place for the books.

New or gently used children's and young adult books can be dropped off at the  Healdsburg branch of the .

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