Growing up, I was one of the lucky ones and was surrounded by books.  These were books I could snuggle up to read every night before slowly drifting off to sleep. Reading was a time for my family to get together and share our joy in some of our favorites;  from Nancy Drew to Boxcar Children to the Chronicles of Narnia. We had the luxury to pick and choose a new book to read at our leisure.  It had not crossed my mind back then what it would be like to not have those books at my fingertips, to not dream about solving mysteries like Nancy Drew, or wondering if there was a secret world hidden in my parents’ wardrobe. I never imagined not having the option to drift away into another land of adventure, seeding my creative imagination.

Now, fast-forward ten years, where over the past few months I have had the pleasure of interning at BookEnds. Through this experience, I understand the great blessings I had growing up with reading and what a difference donating books can make in a child’s life.  One of my favorite moments as an intern so far is witnessing the excitement on a child’s face when they receive a book of their very own for the first time. It can almost bring you to tears as their face lights up with joy when they read through the pages, anxiously waiting to see what is next.

Not only do the recipient children find joy, but, what is great about BookEnds too, is that donor children learn the impact they can make on another at a young age, as they deliver the books and read to one another. At a reflection with a donor school the other
week, we asked the students to share their favorite experience reading to the other kids. One student commented about his experience reading to his “buddy,” saying, “his buddy was over-joyed when they read together! Once they finished reading one book, he always had another one ready to go!” This fourth grader is definitely making a life-long impact in another child’s life! Great things are happening with BookEnds, as they are helping improve literacy all over Los Angeles and showing the benefits of helping one another at a young age. I am just lucky to be a small part in it.

Elizabeth
BookEnds Intern