By Benay Hicks April 8, 2021
“The Book Harvest is coming! The Book Harvest is coming!” These are the words gleefully exclaimed by child upon seeing a Book Harvest team member arrive at her home with a delivery of new books. Our Book Babies Coaches have consistently and safely delivered books to Book Babies families throughout the pandemic, and are regularly greeted (from a distance) with abundant joy.
A Book Baby with his precious box of books…just for him!
The majority of the book drop-offs are entirely contactless, but even those zero-contact moments can be met with excitement. Wilma, Book Harvest’s PreK/K Transition Coach, recently left books at the front door of a home – the young girl saw her and ran to the door. “Are those for me?” she asked, motioning to the books. Wilma confirmed and the child began jumping up and down exclaiming, “Yes! Book Harvest!”
I remember learning about stagecoaches, and how they would slowly make their way across the country carrying precious packages. People would wait on their front porches to listen for the sound of the wagon coming down the dirt road. This is what I think of as our Book Babies team works tirelessly to deliver books to Book Babies families across the community.
♫ “Oh the Wells Fargo Wagon is a coming down the street. Oh please let it be for me….it could be…somethin’ special…just for me!” ♫
I think of the glee the children experience as they see a familiar face approaching their door to bring something special…books picked out just for them. Books are not simply homework assignments or chores to get through, but precious gifts that can transport the mind, offer experiences, and physically help the brain grow and develop.
Thank you for being part of Book Harvest, and for helping us deliver joy to children before, during, and after the pandemic.