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Nov 07
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Inaugural Senior Spelling Bee

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Inaugural Senior Spelling Bee

Designed as an intergenerational event, Discovery Village of Lewisville, a beautiful independent living space, offered to host the event on October 5, 2024. A fabulous lineup of 10 “seniors” (i.e. over 50 years) signed up and recruited a couple of junior sidekicks (children aged 6-16) to help out. The judges laid down the law, prepping our spellers for the spelling showdown ahead. 

When the doors swung open, fans and spectators poured in, buzzing with excitement!

As the spellers took their places, you could practically feel the electricity in the air. One by one, they tackled their words, with some gracefully advancing and others taking a little sidestep into the spectator zone. Our emcee, Michelle Cook, kept the vibes flowing, giving contestants a breather between rounds and pulling lucky raffle winners. Huge thanks to our awesome sponsors for the wonderful baskets and a lucky winner took home 4 coveted seats to catch the Dallas Stars in action!

The grand finale saw Discovery Village resident, Ann Slavik, and the incredible Debbie Goforth of Point Bank battling it out, spelling their way through a storm of tricky words. The crowd was on the edge of their seats, blown away by their spelling prowess. In the end, Debbie emerged as the last speller standing, claiming the title of Champion of Book Drive for Kids’ very first Senior Spelling Bee!

A big virtual high-five to all the volunteers and judges who made this event a smashing success! You rock, and we couldn’t pull off these amazing events without your superhero support!

Nov 07
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Member Highlight – Kathy Parker

By General

Board Member Spotlight — Kathy Parker

Kathy Parker hesitates to take an ounce of credit for the success of Book Drive for Kids. Even as a devoted founding board member, she insists her role has been minor at best and that all the kudos should go to Michelle Cook and Nicol Klingenstein for working tirelessly to create their nonprofit from scratch and doing all they can to get books into the hearts and hands of kids everywhere.

That said, one thing she can’t downplay is the distinction of being the first person they pitched the idea to in the first place. 

As the story goes, Michelle and Nicol already looked up to Kathy as an amazingly selfless and Godly friend and mentor. It also didn’t hurt that she had an extensive background in hospitality, business ownership, leadership, and countless nonprofit work. That background includes owning several Trail Dust Steakhouses with her family, being a board member of the Dallas Opera and Dallas Theater, and being the President of the Dallas Theater Guild. Needless to say, she was precisely the person they needed to bring their fledgling idea to life in 2017. 

“It was a wonderful idea,” Kathy said. “I remember sitting down with them at the kitchen table and working through everything necessary to get started. I pulled out my notebooks from places I had been involved with and worked through what a structure for something like this might look like moving forward—how to set up a board, reporting mechanisms, etc. We started dreaming up a vision of where we wanted to go, and kudos to them for following through.” 

Kathy is still every bit the sounding board and volunteer Book Drive for Kids has needed as it continues to grow. More importantly, she has been instrumental in helping Michelle, Nicol, and so many others achieve personal growth and strive to be good stewards as they search for more ways to give back to the communities they serve.

“While you may not know the lives you touch, you hope that what you’re doing will positively affect future generations,” she said. “I love what Book Drive for Kids does, and I’ll continue to help for as long as they’ll have me.” 

Kathy considers herself a retiree but has no trouble keeping herself busy. She has organized and taught a women’s Bible study group in her home every Monday for the past 15 years and is an active member of Denton Bible Church. She is also involved with several other nonprofits, including Refuge for Women, and still finds time to play tennis three times a week. She also loves cooking and shopping. 

She and her husband, Nathanial, live in Argyle and are about to celebrate their 30th anniversary—possibly with a trip to Spain. They have a blended family with six kids (one of which is in heaven) and 12 grandchildren between three months and 25 years old. Interestingly, one of her step-children is Tan Parker, Senator for Texas Senate District 12. 

With help from volunteers like Kathy, Book Drive for Kids is able to give away thousands of books annually.  Join our volunteer fun and help us get more books to more kids!

Nov 07
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Michelle’s Musings – Ms Frizzle Rides Again

By General

Ms. Frizzle Rides Again!

Remember Ms. Frizzle and the Magic School Bus?

Her adventurous spirit and love of science takes even the most reluctant students on fascinating journeys in her Magic School Bus. They can shrink to the size of a germ inside the human body; travel to the ocean floor, dive inside a volcano or race through outer space; and even zoom back in time to walk alongside dinosaurs. 

I always wanted to be Ms. Frizzle.

When I noticed we had a book fair on October 31st, Halloween Day, I decided now was the time!

It wasn’t until the third graders arrived that it really “clicked” with the kids. When I told them I was Ms. Frizzle, their eyes got big, they started whispering to each other and huge smiles spread across their faces. Of course, this just inspired me to step more fully into the role, encouraging them to choose “my favorite books” (i.e. non-fiction books about science). Of course, they found my books and on their way out showed me the ones they had selected.

I had so much fun which continued even as I awoke the following morning with a smile remembering some of the short conversations “Ms. Frizzle” shared with these students. It  reminded me of my “Why” for dedicating time and effort to bring books to children who otherwise, most likely, will not experience this joy of meeting so many fun, quirky characters in literature.

These precious students had never met me nor had I met them. We live more than 30 miles apart, do not shop at the same grocery store or attend the same church BUT we both know Ms. Frizzle. She became a bridge between us over which we could share delight, questions, and knowledge. This is the power of books.  Complete strangers can form a bond over any shared interest but the experiences of books or stories link us as humans.

Who do you want to connect with?  A co-worker, sibling, child, neighbor?

Maybe sharing a book will help bridge that gap.

Try it and then let me know how it works.

 My heart overflows with gratitude for you – the donors, volunteers, supporters – who give so generously!  Thanks to you on NTX Giving Day, we met our match and more than doubled giving over last year. You are record-breakers with us as each year, the number of children who select books grows! 

Your generosity brought Ms. Frizzle to over 500 students last week! She was able to share her love of learning and the wonder of our beautiful world. When she can’t be there, I have the privilege of going in her stead, which is truly a dream come true. 

 

With gratitude,

Michelle 

Sep 10
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Member Highlight – Jeannine Sandstrom

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Board Member Spotlight — Jeannine Sandstrom

Many moons ago, Dr. Jeannine Sandstrom quit her job, sold her cars and house, and even re-homed her dog so she could join The Peace Corps and teach English as a second language in Malaysia. While the decision to move nearly 10,000 miles away from everyone and everything she knew appeared to be made on a whim—a short recruiting pitch in college was all it took to get Jeannine and her then-husband to sign up—anyone who knows her likely saw it coming from a mile away.

After all, Jeannine comes from a large family of educators and business owners and always had what she calls a “built-in bias” for helping children and adults from all walks of life learn to read as early and as often as possible.

“I’ve seen the difference it can make in people’s lives,” she said. “For a child, a love for reading opens up their entire world.”

Fast-forward to today, and Jeannine’s bias couldn’t be stronger. She parlayed her education and countless trips around the world into teaching at the elementary and university levels, then went on to build a successful consulting practice where she now works with ambitious, fast-moving executives on their path to greatness. When she’s not busy doing that, she’s investing her time, talent, and treasure as a tireless volunteer, cheerleader, and board member for Book Drive for Kids.

Jeannine joined BDK five years ago after meeting Michelle Cook and Nicol Klingenstein through a joint Bible study group. The fearless duo happened to be asking for book donations, which Jeannine happily obliged.

The next thing she knew, she was volunteering at the warehouse and several area book fairs.

Then came even more volunteer opportunities, and Jeannine never once said no.

“When Michelle began talking about needing new books, my built-in bias kicked in, and my ears quickly perked up,” Jeannine said while reminiscing. “It’s hard to say no to Michelle, and honestly, I don’t want to say no. She is delightfully passionate about what she’s doing, and her infectious personality led me to what I’m doing for them today. It was certainly a fun decision, and I can see myself sticking around for quite a while—provided that my unique brand of mischief is tolerated.”

Jeannine has lived in the Flower Mound-Highland Village area for 30 years, and to say she’s accomplished quite a bit in her life would be the understatement of the century. Besides spending nearly three years teaching in Malaysia, she also spent three years in the Canary Islands. She has a Master’s in Human Resource Management and Marketing and a Doctorate in Human Resource Development.

Among many other accolades and credentials, she is a Master Certified Coach (MCC) and Certified Business Coach (CBC).

In her downtime, Jeannine is a member of three book clubs and travels internationally with the Voices of Flower Mound music group.

Sep 10
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Michelle’s Musings – Collaboration

By General

C - O - L - L - A - B - O - R - A - T - I - O - N

The act of two or more entities working together to achieve a goal together.

Two is better than one.
Teamwork makes the dream work.
A House divided against itself cannot stand.
#BetterTogether

Self-help books crowd book stores with leaders extolling the virtues of working together. No matter what industry you work in, best practices include establishing collaboration within the team or across the company but if you have ever been on a team, you know it is not always easy to “play nice”. Lack of communication, differing priorities, various opinions, rivalries, and ultimately, the time to learn how to value and trust the other person often undermine the desire or ability to collaborate.

Here at Book Drive for Kids we place a high priority on Collaboration. As a small, grassroots organization focused in the DFW area, we know that we have a limited sphere of influence, capacity, time, and effort; however, when there’s an army of people working toward the same goal, we can support each other with tools, encouragement, and resources. Then those ripples flow out far and wide.

Free book fairs are at the heart of Book Drive for Kids’ mission and the primary vehicle we use to get books into the hearts and homes of disadvantaged children. Yet we have found a way to expand our “ripples” despite our small size.

We collaborate with multiple groups across the metroplex who are working to achieve our same goal: to build a culture of literacy for the next generation through wide access to books.

We’d like you to meet a couple of them!

Owenwood Neighborhood Farm and Neighborhood Space

“Thank you so much for making all this happen! Our summer kiddos have spent so much time in the loft area reading!”

On June 20, 2024, Book Drive for Kids officially opened the Library Space at Owenwood Farm and Neighborhood Space, a community center in Far East Dallas created on the grounds of a former Methodist Church.

For many years, this area of Dallas has been a food desert, book desert, and a child care desert. Owenwood formed to meet the tangible needs of the local residents, like after-school classes, free food and diaper distribution, senior art and exercise classes, and free summer camps. They also offer low-cost office space to other non-profit organizations who serve the community.

When residents started asking about an on-site library, Director Jessica Hernandez decided a loft space (former balcony) could be transformed to a cozy reading area.

But how could they get the books and bookshelves?

Book Drive for Kids, of course!

For the past two years, Owenwood has sponsored the free book fair at Conner Elementary, literally its neighbor. When Jessica asked us about this project, we were thrilled to join in. With #Giving Tuesday funds from Thrift Books, we purchased bookshelves and brought books to fill them up!

“Thank you so much for making all this happen! Our summer kiddos have spent so much time in the loft area reading!”

Jessica Hernandez
Executive Director

A few years ago, we had an overabundance of board book donations. (Board books are the heavy cardboard books that are made durable for little hands.) We went searching for a group that could find them good homes.

Through a friend, we found Child Care Group, a nonprofit in Dallas that works to improve early childhood education, by equipping stay-at-home parents and small child care providers with tools, training, and support to ensure that young children in low-income areas are ready for kindergarten. Since Texas is ranked 50th (that’s the bottom) in high quality child care available in low-income areas. Child Care Group services are vital and are bridging this gap.

We were delighted to meet Cynthia Garrison, the Home Based Program Manager and the feeling is mutual.

“We are so grateful for Book Drive for Kids. Without their generous donations, we would be lacking in providing free resources, such as books, including bi-lingual books, and supplies to our families to use in their homes. Sometimes families come to us with nothing. Because of Book Drive for Kids support, we can gift them with books, and other learning materials. Book Drive for Kids always thinks of us and are passionate about supporting early readers.”

This is what COLLABORATION looks like! People working together to share resources and empower others to meet the goal together. In this case, our mutual goal is promoting literacy but more than that, it is ensuring that the next generation is equipped to lead and grow our community.

Click image to view our NTX Giving Day flyer

Your gift this NTX Giving Day allows us to provide books and resources to other groups – FREE OF CHARGE – who are serving families that we would never be able to reach with our limited staff. We are all working together to help bring books into the hearts and homes of families who need them.

Let’s Collaborate!!

Michelle Cook
Co-Founder & Executive Director

Sep 10
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Austin Community Foundation

By General

Austin Book Drive For Kids

A kindergarten class at Austin Achieve Pflugerville showing off their free books on August 1st along with representatives from the Young Men’s Service League and National Charity League. This book fair was sponsored by the Austin Community Foundation.

Brooke Terry along with her amazing volunteers are doing great work in Austin.
Getting books into the hearts and homes of children in the area.

Aug 12
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Volunteer Drive 2024

By General

Do you enjoy gift-giving?
Volunteer at a Book Drive for Kids Free Book Fair.

It’s only a few hours a couple of times a year to distribute books to joyful faces. Imagine the thrill of seeing their eyes light up with excitement as they choose their very own book to take home.
Volunteers: Michelle, James Price of Independent Financial, retired Denton ISD teachers: Sheree Sardiner, BJ Hardesty and Jill Coulter, and Pam Lipari of Flower Mound

By sharing the gift of reading, you’re not only giving a physical book but also opening doors to imagination, knowledge, and endless possibilities. It’s a small gesture that can have a profound impact on a child’s life, fostering a lifelong love for reading and learning.

So yes, those few hours spent distributing books are more than worth it. They are moments that weave into the tapestry of a child’s future, inspiring dreams and nurturing curiosity. And who knows, perhaps one of those children will grow up to write stories that enchant the next generation.

Book Drive for Kids delivers the books directly to children in elementary schools around the metroplex.

It’s easy peasy for you! Choose a school from our list for the school year, sign in at the school office with a valid driver’s license, and join us as we have a wonderful day assisting the kids selecting a brand new book and a bonus book to take home. We pack up before the school bell rings at the end of the day, and you are free to enjoy the rest of the day. You will leave with a smile on your face because helping children choose a book is rewarding, fun, and fast-paced.

Not only will you be contributing to the literacy and joy of young minds, but you’ll also become part of a supportive community of volunteers who share a passion for reading and education. Each book drive event is a unique experience, filled with heartwarming moments and the infectious excitement of children discovering new stories. Whether you’re a seasoned volunteer or new to the initiative, your efforts will make a significant impact. So, grab a friend, spread the word, and join us in making a difference, one book at a time. Together, we can inspire a lifelong love of reading and learning in the next generation.

Go to 2024-2025 Book Fairs and check out the upcoming Book Fair locations. This link is regularly updated.

Go to our website VOLUNTEER – Book Drive for Kids today! We can’t wait to hear from you!

Aug 12
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Volunteer Highlight – Sara Blatnick

By General

Board Member Spotlight — Sara Blatnick

Written by Steve Gamel

Sara Blatnik insists one of the greatest blessings of her life happened three years ago when she stumbled upon a magazine article about Book Drive for Kids. At the time, Sara and her siblings were managing their grandparents’ charitable foundation and were carefully searching for an organization to donate to financially. In her words, Book Drive for Kids “checked all the boxes” and was the perfect choice to honor her grandparents’ wishes and share their legacy of giving back to schools, children, education, and families.

What happened next went beyond her wildest dreams — and easily reshaped her life forever.

“I reached out through the website, and Michelle contacted me immediately,” Sara recalled. “We had coffee, and even after awarding them the donation, Michelle kept reaching out to see if I wanted to volunteer. I had just left my job and was looking to get more involved in my community, so I started with a few book fairs, helped organize the warehouse … and then there was the spelling bee. All of a sudden, I realized I was growing with them. We’ve been friends ever since.”

She added, “You can’t help but be drawn to them and their mission. The biggest thing is seeing the kids smile when they pick up their books and put their names on them. It’s one of the many reasons I keep coming back.”

Sara remains a kind, generous, and supportive behind-the-scenes volunteer and friend. She has served on the Adult Spelling Bee committee since its inception in 2023. This past year, she added processing the Check the Box requests to her growing to-do list. If you recall, this is an additional program BDK offers for parents who request that slightly used books be mailed to their homes for free. And just this month, Sara was sworn in as Book Drive for Kids’ newest volunteer board member.

“I am honored that they would want me on the board,” Sara said. “God put these beautiful women in my life, and this organization has more than helped me grow as a person. I hope to be more involved as time goes by.”

Sara was born and raised in Midland but moved to North Texas 19 years ago. She and her husband, Matt, have been married for 11 years and live in Flower Mound. They enjoy traveling and are big-time sports enthusiasts, particularly Aggie football and the Dallas Stars. Sara also enjoys spending time with her five nieces and nephews whenever possible.

Before joining Book Drive for Kids, Sara spent two years as a weekend meteorologist in Midland and 16 years in the oil and gas industry for EOG Resources in Fort Worth. In 2018, she and her siblings became the co-managers of the Holland Family Foundation.

Their grandparents, Scotty and Jacque Holland, started the organization in 2010 to give back to the less fortunate in their community.

Clearly, they set an excellent example Sara still follows today.

Aug 12
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New School Year Begins

By General

Back to School time is one of my favorite times of year!

New pencils.
New markers.
New notebooks.
New planner.
New books!!!

My own children have grown and flown but I still stock up on school supplies!

Happy feelings and anticipation flood my mind this time of year. Why?

Because I loved school (even graduate school). Overall my school experiences were good. I loved to read and learn. Teachers genuinely cared about me. I made lifelong friends. Good grades came easy for me and I even won some awards. My academic experiences laid a strong foundation for life-long reading and a love of learning.

How about you?
Was school a nightmare?
A bore?
Seemingly useless?

Many struggle to learn to read due to dyslexia or other conditions. They have teachers who lack classroom management skills or fellow students who are just plain mean. Maybe they moved a lot so it was a new school every year. Making friends and learning a new building and community can be hard.

One of the reasons we started Book Drive for Kids was to help children who are struggling with reading to experience the same joy and curiosity that many of us have experienced. It is a gift and skill that should be a birthright of every child, regardless of their zip code, affluence or the level of formal education of their parents.

No matter your experience. School days imprint on a child’s development. Teachers, friends, and curriculum played a direct role in the formation of who each of us are today. At Book Drive for Kids, we provide a formative, joyful experience with books. Book selections are curated so that EVERY child can find a book to connect with, regardless of reading skill. Book fair volunteers share smiles and helpful words. Donors share love and hope with every gift. Amazed by the quality book selections, teachers often want to choose one themselves! Because each of you do your part, every child leaves our free book fairs with book(s) to grow their mind AND a dose of love and spark of hope for a better day!

While these “feels” are important for every child, they are crucial for the children we serve. Most are already behind in reading, lack learning resources and books at home, and with rising inflation, financial pressure is stronger than ever. Into this situation, Book Drive for Kids offers a ray of hope in the form of a new book.

We did it for 31,973 children across Texas with over 60,000 books given away.

That’s a Community Impact! Take a few minutes to review our Community Impact Report. Truly, we are amazed at the impact a relatively small group of people can make! Let’s invite more of our friends along for the journey of sharing the joy of reading with the next generation. Look for announcements in the coming months about some exciting things ahead!

Here’s to a great school year for ALL students,

Michelle

Jun 19
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Supporting Austin Sunshine Camp

By Fundraising, General

This summer, Book Drive for Kids Austin is serving 500 foster care and at-risk youth in the Austin area by giving them free books.  Children in foster care typically lack access to books, with parents not being able to take them to the library or buy them books for summer reading. To bridge this gap, we host free book fairs at several summer events, ensuring that they have access to a good book and hopefully prevent the summer slide.

Last week, we kicked off our summer efforts by hosting a free outdoor book fair at Zilker Park during the Austin Sunshine Camp kickoff event. We braved the Texas heat and distributed 173 brand-new books to campers! Each camper was able to select a book to bring to camp and read during quiet time that can spark a love for reading that will last a lifetime.

Upcoming Summer Events

The Austin Chapter of Book Drive for Kids has three more exciting events planned this summer:

These events are expected to serve 500 students, offering the gift of literacy and the joy of owning their very own book. Books open doors to new worlds, foster a love for reading, and contribute to the educational success of foster care and at-risk youth.

How You Can Help

If you have a heart for foster care youth and believe in the power of books, we invite you to support our cause. Here’s how you can make a difference:

  • Donate Books: Visit our Amazon Wish List and purchase a book. Each book bought will go directly to a child in need, providing them with the tools to succeed academically.
  • Monetary Donations: Contributions of any size are greatly appreciated and go a long way in helping us reach more children. Your donation will be used to purchase new books and cover the costs of our free book fairs.

Your generosity can make a lasting impact on a child’s life. With your help, we can continue to bring the joy of reading to children who need it most. Thank you for supporting our mission and making a difference in the lives of foster care youth.

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