Assistance League Provides New Books To Elementary Students

Members of Assistance League of Northern Virginia recently helped nearly 550 students at a local elementary school select a brand-new book to take home and keep. For the second book fair of this school year, in a program called “Build a Child’s Library,” Assistance League members worked with the Reading Specialist and other school administrators to provide an assortment of book titles that would suit the students’ reading levels and interests. The nonprofit purchased books from Scholastic in sufficient quantities to ensure that every student would have a wide variety of suitable books from which to choose. After selecting their books, the students went to the signing tables where they wrote their names under the words “This Book Belongs to” and received a specially designed Bookmark. The seriousness they devoted to this effort showed how much they appreciated having a new book that was theirs forever.

Assistance League members always derive great satisfaction and joy when helping students select the perfect book because they can see the smiles on the students’ faces when they find books on topics they like. The students expressed their gratitude in many ways, including hugs for the volunteers. In addition, the school’s administrators provided lunch for the members as a token of their gratitude.

No one can say who had the most fun at this event – the students, the school staff, or the members. Perhaps that’s the best outcome anyone could imagine.