Local teen conducts book drive for Skidmore program
Charles VanDergrift, an eighth-grade student at Saratoga Central Catholic, recently presented 90 children?s picture books to the 1000 Books Project, a Skidmore community-service learning program.
According to Project Coordinator Rosie Manley, VanDergrift had originally planned to donate a collection of his own picture books but then decided to expand his effort by conducting a book drive at his school. He posted a ?Wanted? sign on collection boxes and was pleasantly surprised to collect 90 pre-school books for the 1000 Books Project, as well as additional 90 chapter books that will be donated to older readers through local charities. The enterprising 13-year-old described his project as ?really fun.?
?Charles? donation to the library is most welcome and will definitely be well used
by our Skidmore mentors,? said Manley.
The 1000 Books Project supports and encourages the development of early literacy
skills in young children. It?s based on a semester-long course that focuses on lesson
planning, curriculum development, and helping children develop a love of books. As
part of the course, Skidmore students meet weekly with the project coordinator to
learn about emerging literacy and age-appropriate activities for 3- and 4-year-olds.
The Skidmore students utilize the skills they?ve learned when they conduct weekly
visits to the homes of children enrolled in the Head Start program. For each visit,
the students bring a collection of books from the 1000 Books library and leave them
at the home for the family to share. The following week new books are exchanged for
those already read.
Each book delivered by VanDergrift features a bookplate with the Saratoga Central
Catholic logo and the inscription ?donated by the students and families of Saratoga
Catholic Central.?
