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ANDOVER – If you’re an avid reader and believe others should be too you won’t want to miss your opportunity to donate to The Happy Bookers’ third annual Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital book drive which this year started within Scholastic Book Fair on Friday, April 6 within PV Middle School.(From April 13 edition).

According to one of the members Sigrid Smith, the book drive started three years ago after their organization had the opportunity to watch the videos Broncos Go and Truly Brave.
“There were two videos on YouTube about children in pediatric career treatment centers and that’s how we got started,” said Smith. “By doing this we demonstrate the hope, creativity and all the positive energy that goes into helping the children.”
When they first began the drive Smith said books were collected within the church but since then have changed their collections to be within Andover Public Library, Henderson Memorial Library in Jefferson, Grand Valley Public Library in Orwell and Ashtabula County District Central Library.
“Anyone and everyone can donate as long as they are new books,” said Smith. “Several people from the book club also drive to Rainbow Babies and Children Hospital to deliver the books too. We take anywhere from board books to age 22.”
Smith also adds that the books (except the board books which are sent home) are sanitized and reused again in the hospital’s family resource center within their library where patients can choose books on their own or have them wheeled down to them on carts.
All books that Rainbow Babies and Children Hospital receive she said are donations from the public through their efforts each year or others in the area.
Regardless of how many books are collected this year Smith said she really enjoys the chance to make a difference in the lives of hospital patients through their donations.

“It takes them out in a different environment where they can use their imagination and gives them back a little bit of their childhood,” said Smith. “It also brings families closer together reading with their children. Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital are also so appreciative of what we do for them.”
For further information about donating new books for The Happy Bookers’ Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital book drive please contact Sigrid Smith by calling (440) 293-7609 or by stopping into any of the select libraries.

Pictured: Twelve-year-olds Savannah Dougherty and Zoey Agardi next to The Happy Bookers’ book drive box that was available for PV middle school students to donate to for Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital until the end of PTO’s Scholastic Book Fair. In addition to PV Middle School, book drive boxes will also be setup within Andover Public Library, Henderson Memorial Library in Jefferson, Grand Valley Public Library in Orwell and Ashtabula County District Central Library until Friday, May 11.