Community help needed to stock Chastain library
LIBERTY — Students, SDPC employees, parents and community members are on a mission — a mission to ensure that Chastain Elementary students have a well-stocked media center when the new school opens in September.
Organized by the Liberty Elementary PTO and School Improvement Council, “Chastain’s Road to Reading” is a fundraising campaign with the goal of raising $80,000 to purchase library books. The total cost to stock a media center for 500 students is approximately $150,000.
Since the campaign kicked off in early March, $7,387 has been raised.
“Some people have questioned why money to purchase books was not included in the building program,” said Dr. Henry Hunt, superintendent. “Legally, building program money cannot be used for books, so we have to find other ways to provide the resources.”
District and school administrators first considered dividing the Liberty Elementary library collection between the two Liberty-area elementary schools.
“Splitting the collection would have taken books from the Liberty students, so we felt raising funds for Chastain’s media center was a better alternative,” said Hunt.
Among the fundraisers planned for “Chastain’s Road to Reading” are a Corporate & Civic Challenge and Adopt-a-Book.
Sponsorships in the Corporate & Civic Challenge range from $2,500 for “Nobel Level” to $100 for “Classic Level.” Corporate donations now total $4,140.
Individuals or groups may also make online donations through the Adopt-a-Book program at http://www.titlewish.com/cre. For each donation made in someone’s memory or honor, a personalized nameplate will be placed in a new book. The online site is safe, and all donations go directly to the purchase of books.
Additional details about donation opportunities can be found on the SDPC website and on the Liberty Elementary School website. “Chastain’s Road to Reading” donations should be made by June 30.
“It’s exciting to open a new school and to see the community rally behind it,” Hunt said. “We sincerely appreciate those who have already made donations and hope that others will join in the campaign. This is a great opportunity for civic groups, book clubs, businesses and individuals to provide children with books.”