More than 300 books available to readers of all ages were up for sale at Tatem Elementary School, Thursday, Nov. 16.
More than 300 books, available to readers of all ages, were up for sale at Tatem Elementary School Thursday, Nov. 16. Students and their parents were encouraged to participate in the “buy one, give one” (BOGO) book sale geared toward connecting the community and gathering books to give to students in need.
During the event, students and parents purchased at least one book to read and one to donate. The students then placed their donated books in a box to be saved for students of an undetermined sister school. Students were also encouraged to write questions on a note card for sister school students as a way to engage with other students outside of the community.
John Smyth, the organizer of the event and member of the PTA, came up with the idea in hopes that Tatem could find a sister school so Haddonfield could be united to surrounding communities. He was inspired by the 2016 presidential election to tie the community together through communication, starting with the schools. Smyth hopes this donation will remind kids that whether it’s 10 minutes down the road or across the world, there is always someone who is less fortunate.
“That’s what I’m really trying to do, build a community and get the kids to try to learn that there’s something else out of Haddonfield because we are so privileged here and sometimes we just forget,” Smyth said.
Tatem has not found a sister school yet; however, when it does, the donated books will be given to the students of that school. Smyth is hoping to be able to connect with a school in Camden, Pennsauken or Lindenwold to act as Tatem’s other half.
His goal is not to “drop off boxes” to a school, but to be involved and form a partnership.
“The step would be to start with events like this and ease them into it and…have them go (to the sister school) and participate … and have them come here and participate in our 5K this year just so we start to interact,” Smyth explained.
Julie Beddingfield, owner of Inkwood Books, collaborated with Smyth to provide Tatem with a selection of books for the sale. More than 100 books were purchased for donation after the sale and the turnout exceeded Beddingfield’s expectations.
“I really had no idea what to expect, so this was really great that we had so many people in the first wave. We really didn’t know because we had never done it before, so it’s kind of like when you throw a party and you hope people show up,” Beddingfield said.
The feedback from the students and parents was supportive and encouraging.
“I think it’s definitely good for the sister school and that it will help them with a lot of reading,” student Avery Smyth said.
Nick Theoret, third-grader at Tatem, added, “I really like that we’re donating books to people that don’t have books. I thinks it’s really nice.”
