Give A Kid a book: Bins Out Now!

When you come by the library, be sure to keep your eyes open for the Give a Kid a Book Bins at the front desk. From now until just before Christmas, you can put donations of new children's books (reading level infant through high school) or children's audiobooks in the bins and we'll see to it that the Friends of the Chippewa Falls Public library forwards your donations to The Spirit of Christmas of Chippewa County.

Or, if it's easier, you can donate cash or checks to the cause. If you donate cash, just put it in an envelope labeled "Give a Kid a Book" and give it the desk staff. If you donate a check, make it out to The Friends of the Chippewa Falls Public Library with "GAKAB" in the memo line. We'll take care of the rest.

I know, I know. It's early to think about Christmas. But times are tough this year, and it takes some lead time to get this right.

DONATE!

Letter From Carl Miller, Treasurer to the Friends of the Library

Dear Friend of the Library,

On Tuesday afternoon, I accompanied Children's Librarians Karen
and Colleen, and Library Director Darryl to Borders to select books
for our Give-A-Kid-A-Book drive...The three of them did the hard work of selecting books; I just carried the Friends checkbook. Later that day, Darryl delivered the Library's contribution of more than 200 books for kids of all ages to the Spirit of Christmas collection point.

Take a bow, member of the Friends of the Library. We kicked in about $566 of our funds to enable the Library to again have a successful campaign for kids of needy families...I hope the warm feeling of helping this worthy cause comes close to the one I had as I wrote out those checks at Borders.

A donation toward our GAKAB drive--anytime during the year--goes into the treasury earmarked specifically for this community program.

And, while I have your attention, I'd like to compare this year's GAKAB expenditure with the past couple years. In 2008 we bought $580 of books; our contribution was $540 of the total. And last year we bought $817, of which our share was about $688...

Carl, Friends Treasurer

Ed. Note: The Chippewa Falls Public Library would like to thank all who gave books and money to Give a Kid a Book in 2010. There is no gift one can give a child with more potential to improve her life than the gift of literacy. More than the simple ability to read, literacy in a larger and more important sense is the desire to read, which is what I personally hope such an effort produces in at least a few of the children who received books. Mark Twain said it best: "The man who does not read good books has no advantage over he who can't read them."

Press Release: Give a Kid a Book 2010

This is the press release I sent out just a little while ago. I hope my thousands of loyal readers will feel free to forward the information to whomever they feel might be willing to take part.

Chippewa Falls Public Library Announces “Give A Kid A Book” 2010

Chippewa Falls--November 9, 2010--The annual book donation drive sponsored by The Chippewa Falls Public Library in conjunction with The Spirit of Christmas of Chippewa County and the Friends of the Chippewa Falls Public Library is back for the 2010 holidays.

“Give A Kid A Book,” as the effort is called, gives the public the opportunity to give the gift of reading to the children and families served by The Spirit of Christmas of Chippewa County, a gift-giving program for low-income families in and around Chippewa County.

Sandy Harberts of the Spirit of Christmas of Chippewa County says that the organization makes it a point to include books in every bag of gifts they put together and that donations of books in the past have been very helpful to their efforts.

Until December 3rd, the Chippewa Falls Public Library will be a drop-off point for new books and donations of money meant to purchase new books. Checks should be made out to “Friends of the Chippewa Falls Public Library” with the words “Give a Kid a Book” in the memo line. Cash should be placed in an envelope with those same words on the outside.

"It might not be obvious to make sure books are included in a bundle of Christmas presents for children or teens," says Darryl Eschete, Director of the Chippewa Falls Public Library. "Toys or electronics usually come to mind first. But books serve children in important ways that other gifts simply can’t.”

“I think it’s one of the nicest things the library could do,” says Carl Miller, Treasurer of the Friends of the Chippewa Falls Public Library. “A kid can’t have too many books.”

Those wishing to mail donations should send the donations to:

Chippewa Falls Public Library
ATTN: Carl Miller
105 W. Central St.
Chippewa Falls, WI 54729

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Food for Fines Follow Through

"The charity that is a trifle to us can be precious to others."--Homer

Above you see just a portion of the food collected here at the library during the Food for Fines program in September. Just a while ago, I delivered said food to the Salvation Army Food Pantry at 521 N. Bridge Street here in Chippewa Falls. According to pantry coordinator Sally Hegg, the service sees about 30 people a day come through and it has been tough lately keeping food on the shelves.

Donations are always welcome, according to Ms. Hegg, and donations and contributions are tax deductible. The pantry's workers will be glad to give those who donate a receipt if they want one. Those who use the service must verify income & need. For more information, email Sally or call her at 715-726-9506 ext. 3.

The library will do Food for Fines again in the future and I urge you to watch this space for information on the upcoming "Give a Kid a Book" program, a coordinated effort of the Chippewa Falls Public Library, the Friends of the Chippewa Falls Public Library and The Spirit of Christmas of Chippewa County. During the Christmas season, we cooperate to include donated reading materials in gift packages put together for needy local families. The library will make donation boxes available for those patrons who want to make sure Santa includes a few new children's books under the tree.


For those who gave, THANK YOU! And we hope all our patrons continue to seek out opportunities to help local charities.