Last week Brown Middle School in El Paso, Texas hosted a special holiday book fair to give the gift of reading. As part of their Scholastic Holiday Book Fair, Brown Middle School students purchased new books for foster children in need through Court Appointed Service Advocates (CASA).
During the fair a “giving tree” displayed tags with the names, ages and interests of foster children in need. Brown Middle School students could select a tag from the tree to purchase a book for the listed child. In addition, the students were also able to select the book that would best match the child’s interest listed on the giving tree cards.
This is the first time Brown Middle School has hosted this joint ventured with CASA. At the close of the fair Brown Middle School students donated 228 new books to 145 children!
“The most rewarding part [of this event] is seeing our Brown Middle School kids getting excited about buying books for less fortunate kids,” said Trish Johnson, Librarian of Brown Middle School.
The director of CASA mentioned the children under their
services generally receive hand-me downs specifically recalling a 17 year old who received a new book and the first thing he did was smell it and said “I have never owned my very own book.”
