Bernie’s Book Bank

I am extremely fortunate to have something very special–a close relationship with a group of my best girlfriends from high school.  For 30+ years (hard to believe it has really been that long), we have done a Secret Santa gift exchange. This year, one of the group suggested that we do something different together.  She suggested that we all volunteer together, and a new plan was set into motion! We chose to volunteer for a local organization called Bernie’s Book Bank. I had heard great things about the place, but I had never volunteered there.

Bernie’s Book Bank provides free books to low income children throughout Chicagoland, 12 books per year for 12 years.  Literacy and access to age appropriate books has a huge impact on a child’s future, and the founder of the organization knew this.  The books are distributed through school districts and WIC offices. Volunteers of all ages and abilities are welcome to help at Bernie’s Book Bank.  When I was there with my friends, we saw families, children of various ages, and corporate groups.

My little group consisted of myself and 3 of my dear friends.  (Two of our regular group were not available, and one was stuck at home with a car that wouldn’t start.  The temperature outside that recent Saturday morning was, if I remember correctly, approximately 3 degrees. Enough said.)   Our first job was bagging sets of 6 books for 2nd and 3rd graders. Books were divided up–for each bag, we had to take 2 picture books, 2 non-fiction books, and 2 chapter books.  This easy task, though, did make you think and pay attention. The kids are given the bags; they are not picking and choosing. It was important to me to make sure that there was some balance in each bag.  I did not want to create what would look like a stereotypical “boy” or “girl” bag, nor did I want any sort of “theme.” (There was several animal related books in all of the categories.) I did not want a bag that only had books about butterflies, Barbie, princesses, and kittens, for example.  I really did try to choose books that would provide a wide variety–a bag may have included a book about fairies, rainbows, hockey, Legos, a boy scout, and zombie animals, for example. (I did not have time to really delve into any of these books, but, there is apparently a book series called “Undead Pets.”  I was unaware of that series when my kids were little. I would have remembered those books! When I looked the series up on-line afterwards (I was curious), the books were described as “gruesomely funny illustrated chapter books.” I can see how that could inspire some kids to read.) We were then “demoted” to collecting and bagging books for kindergarteners and first graders.  (Ok, this wasn’t an actually demotion, just an alteration in task.) The process was similar.

Although we all had the chance to chat and catch up with each other during the bagging tasks, I think that we all had the most fun with the final activity of the day.  Organizing books for the WIC facilities worked a little differently. Large boxes of books were set around in a square. We had to take 5 books from each box, keep track of the numbers, and organize them in large bins for transport.  Looking at some of these books brought back such memories! Dr. Seuss, Sandra Boynton, Dinosaurs cleaning rooms, books about trucks and various body parts, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, and so many more! (I just wanted to go home and snuggle and read to my kids.  They just gave me a funny look when I got home and told them that. They are teens. I suppose that “funny looks” is somewhat baseline.) Getting back to book gathering, one of us did the number count, one did the bin organizing, and two of us did the picking and choosing.  Let me be more specific–the accountant turned teacher did the number count, the engineer did the bin organizing, and the lawyer and doctor did the picking and choosing. We were quite the force to be reckoned with! (The lawyer and doctor had extra fun trying to pick books of various shapes and sizes to challenge the engineer of the group!  It was like Tetras for books!)

This activity made for a very special Secret Santa.  I still enjoy the various gifts received over the past many years, but the main purpose is to spend time with friends doing something special.  This volunteer activity definitely qualified! We look forward to going back. Plus, there are a lot of kids out there waiting for a good book!

Please check out Bernie’s Book Bank or other organizations that help increase literacy among kids. The children we help are the ones who will be in charge in the future. For so many reasons, doesn’t it make sense to help?