Bookmobile, Browseabout team up for young readers
The Cape Henlopen School District bookmobile made the rounds to area neighborhoods this summer with help from a local bookstore.
Rehoboth Beach's Browseabout Books gave hundreds of new books to Cape Henlopen School District for its summer bookmobile stops, said Donna Kolakowski, supervisor of elementary education for Cape Henlopen School District.
“We wouldn't have been as successful if it wasn't for the dedication of our volunteers and the donation from Browseabout Books. This summer we handed out 2,357 books, and we certainly couldn't have done it without any of them.”
Cape Henlopen started the bookmobile four years ago with a van full of books and a dedicated staff of volunteers.
The van is stocked with bins of board books for babies and young children, and chapter books for students up to fifth grade, in English and Spanish. Over five weeks, the van stopped three times a week at neighborhoods such as Burton Village, West Rehoboth Community Center, Jefferson Apartments, Savannah East and Savannah West, Telemon in Cool Springs, Shipbuilder’s Village and Hidden Hills near Lincoln.
Joining the van were principals of area schools and volunteers who helped pass out books to children. Children can keep the books they choose or bring them back to exchange for others. In addition to books, volunteers passed out raffle tickets. A winner at each of Cape Henlopen's elementary schools received a new backpack with school supplies, Kolakowsi said.
Volunteers from the Family Outreach Center, working with the Delaware Department of Education and St. Peter's Feed the Children Heart and Soul Ministry, handed out meals to students during the bookmobile stop.
Kolakowski said the bookmobile collects new and lightly used books throughout the school year. Anyone interested in donating books can contact Kolakowski at donna.kolakowski@cape.k12.de.us.
