‘Books for the Bayou'

SBCR launches drive to collect books for children displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita

For release: Oct. 3, 2005

"Books for the Bayou," a communitywide effort to provide books for children who lost everything to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, has been launched by Shreveport-Bossier Community Renewal and will culminate on Make A Difference Day, Oct. 22, with the annual Celebration of Caring Picnic at Betty Virginia Park.

SBCR is seeking thousands of children's books for families who lost their homes in New Orleans and other South Louisiana communities.

"Reading can stimulate the imagination and stir the soul. For the children affected by the hurricanes, books can help them escape somewhere else and help them cope with the chaos wrought by these storms," said David Westerfield, director of communications at SBCR.

"Books are also vital for children right now because children's books bring people together and will help strengthen relationships that are so important in stressful times. When parents or other adults read to children, that's quality time with many benefits for the child."

SBCR's goal is to restore caring communities through personal relationships, which makes this effort a natural outreach for SBCR. More often than not, the reading of a children's book is a shared activity which builds the relationships of those involved.

Noted Shreveport children's book author William Joyce is endorsing the project and will help seek donations through his contacts in the publishing world.

"Art and stories are essential to children and adults.  We can't let these people, who've lost so much, lose this as well," Joyce said.

Books for the Bayou details:

• Bring new or like-new children's books to the Celebration of Caring Picnic, between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at Betty Virginia Park. We encourage donations to come at this time as Oct. 22 is Make A Difference Day.
• For those unable to attend the picnic, book donations may also be made at the SBCR office, 1700 Buckner St.; and at these local bookstores: Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million and Tower Book Shop.
• Cash donations will also be accepted. Money will be used to buy books and, if necessary, help cover any costs that may be incurred in delivering books.
• All donations to "Books for the Bayou," books or cash, will go toward helping families affected by Hurricanes Katrina or Rita. These families will be identified through the Red Cross, churches and others who have worked with the evacuees. We may also help a library that was flooded in South Louisiana.
• Books will be delivered on or as soon as possible after Oct. 22.
• An article and photographs reporting on the results of the book drive will be published in the Holiday 2005 edition of Renewal News, the quarterly newsletter of Shreveport-Bossier Community Renewal.

Shreveport-Bossier Community Renewal is a nonprofit effort to restore safe and healthy communities through caring relationships. Founded in 1994, SBCR reaches at-risk youth through Friendship Houses built in impoverished neighborhoods, strengthens education through the Adult Renewal Academy, partners with The Fuller Center for Housing and connects caring partners who turn their neighborhoods into safe havens of friendship and support.

Contact: David Westerfield, director of communications
(318) 425-3222
davidwesterfield@sbcr.us