Rotary Club of Wilmette Collects 25,000 Books for Chicago Schools
The Rotary Club of Wilmette collected a record 25,000 books this year to help less-fortunate Chicago students perform better and love reading. Over 17 years, Rotary delivered more than 150,000 books to students. The Rotary Club of Wilmette’s Big Book Drive collects thousands of children’s, library, reference and young adult books from North Shore schools and libraries and the club gratefully thanks them. Books come from Wilmette District 39 elementary schools, local public and private high schools, the Wilmette, Winnetka/Northfield, Northbrook, Glenview and Skokie Public Libraries, and private individual donations. Like past years, Office Depot/Green Bay Road Manager, Terry Prange, donated hundreds of new bank-box cartons. And club benefactor, Jack Flynn, supported the drive. All books will be delivered to Catalyst Charter Schools grades K-12 in Chicago’s Marquette Park and Austin neighborhoods and Chicago Math and Science Academy grades 6-12 in Rogers Park. Together, they serve 2,200 students and make literacy a major priority. Rotary Book Drive Chair Maurice Sullivan notes a correlation between these thousands of donated books and increased student interest in reading and reading levels. Photo Caption:The Rotary Clubs of Wilmette and Winnetka-Northfield and community volunteers sorted 25,000 children’s and young adult books by grade level for delivery to less-fortunate Chicago students.
