Redwood brings in books

More than 8,000 books have been collected as part of a major book drive, and kids from Redwood Middle School played a big part in reaching that number.

The local collection, organized by the Westlake Village/Sunrise Rotary Club, is part of an international book drive that will culminate at the Rotary International Convention next month in Los Angeles.

Rotarians from 144 countries will bring their books, and an 8foot-by 8-foot structure made up of boxes of books will stand at the entrance to the convention.

Andrea Jansen, who's on Rotary's book drive committee, focused on getting kids excited about giving. Because of her involvement in Rotary and her position as community concerns chair of the Conejo Council PTA, Jansen was able to get a large number of people involved. She went to parentteacher groups, private schools and Scout troops urging kids to bring in books.

More than half of the 8,000 books collected are from local schools.

"It was a really great way for the two groups to work together," Jansen said of Rotary and PTA.

John Gorham, executive director of Manna, a nonprofit organization that feeds needy children around the world, agreed.

"It really brought the groups together," Gorham said. "And working together sets us up to do other future projects together."

Redwood students brought in nearly 1,200 books, far more than any other school. Sequoia Middle School collected about 530 and Ladera Elementary collected 500. University, Weathersfield and Madrona elementaries each brought in more than 300.

"One thing I found as I was going and collecting books was that some of the kids donating were recipients of books last year or the year before," Jansen said. "I think it's really cool, kids giving back to the same program that gave to them."

Since Redwood Middle School students collected the most books, Evie Green, president of the Westlake Village/Sunrise Rotary, presented Principal Lou Lichtil with a certificate of appreciation. Gorham, Jansen and Aleta Smith, president of the Conejo Council PTA, were on hand.

Jansen said she was impressed with the kids' involvement, especially in view of the fact that no prizes or celebratory pizza parties had been offered.

"To have that drive to do that, it's incredible," Jansen said. "So many kids do things for others because of what they get from it."

Gorham, too, was impressed.

"These kids were really doing this for their peers just for the feeling of helping others," he said.

The 99th annual Rotary International Convention is June 15 to 18. For many years, Rotary in Southern California has partnered with the Los Angeles Times and the Reading by 9 program. This year, Rotary has decided to make the drive a global initiative, and everyone who attends the convention will bring at least one book.

The donated books will benefit students in kindergarten through third grade in Southern California school systems.