It was a pleasure to spend the day with Bridge of Books on July 31st and August 8th for the Back to School Giveaways with News 12 New Jersey, Optimum, and Warner Bros Discovery! It is always wonderful to volunteer alongside Abby and see firsthand the impact of the Bridge of Books on New Jersey’s children.
The first giveaway, held at the Boys & Girls Club of Newark was only the beginning of the incredible two days I would spend with Bridge of Books. It had been raining all morning and had just let up when we arrived about an hour before the event to set up. Soon, a long line started to form on the blacktop where all of the events’ donors were set up, and the Bridge of Books tent was the final stop. Almost as if out of a fairytale, the sun shined brightly overhead for the rest of the day, a hint at the wonderful day ahead. We started the day with over 30 boxes of books. As usual, the boxes were filled to the brim with everything from board books and picture books to chapter books and young adult novels. If there is one thing I’ve learned that is at the core of Bridge of Books’ mission, it’s not only important that every child has access to books, but also that what they’re reading speaks to them, their interests, and who they are becoming. Bridge of Books pays attention to what kids want, whether it’s Harry Potter or the Wimpy Kid saga.
The kids came pouring in once they caught sight of our tables covered entirely with books. Excited groups of elementary school students crowded around classics like Junie B. Jones and new favorites like the Gravity Falls graphic novels. High schoolers and middle schoolers rediscovered popular dystopian reads like The Hunger Games while their baby siblings kept busy with Baby Shark and Sesame Street. There truly was something for everyone, which is always the case with Bridge of Books. By the end of the first giveaway, there were only 5 boxes of books left, and only because the books were separated by age group. Had they been put together, they might have only filled one or two boxes fully, a testament to the event’s success! News 12 interviewed Abby, myself, and the newly appointed Miss NJ Earth who was there to help volunteer. Whenever I have the pleasure of hearing Abby talk about her work, I can’t help but be inspired. This is precisely why I said in my interview that Bridge of Books has done more for me than I could ever say. Having seen the reaction of so many children receiving their first book, and on top of that, seeing themselves represented in what they are reading, I know there is no other feeling like it in the world.
The second giveaway was held at the YMCA in Perth Amboy and again, the rain did nothing to quell the buzz of energy in the building. As we set up in the gym to the DJ’s upbeat tracks, little kids peered into the window slots and began to dance with us to the upbeat music. Soon, at least a hundred kids were in the gym at a time, eager to visit our booth as they examined the rows of colorful covers laid out on each of our tables. One thing I love about helping kids find books they enjoy is that although they might not initially know what they’re looking for, they always adore what they leave with. Even kids on the shy side can’t help but smile when they find the third book in a series they’ve been looking for or a new edition of their favorite graphic novel. It’s these moments that make spending the day with Bridge of Books that much more incredible. At the end of the event, we were again left with 26 empty boxes from the over 30 full boxes we had come in with.
I know in those two days, we helped to change the lives of not only the kids who were able to find books they loved, but their families, their friends, and even future generations. When one kid can experience the confidence that reading brings, all of us benefit from the joy and open-mindedness that is fostered through discovering a new world of what-ifs. Thank you Bridge of Books, and thank you Abby for letting me join you on your mission to make the world a better place, one book at a time.
