Jason Kim and EBCBP Board Chair Ann Katz

Jason Kim’s scout uniform may not look like shining armor, but he’s done heroic service for the children who get free books from the East Bay Children’s Book Project.  The senior at Alamo’s Monte Vista High School donated an amazing 1,724 books as the culmination of his Eagle Project – the last requirement for his Eagle Scout badge.

Jason came to help the East Bay Children’s Book Project through a combination of luck and the Project’s renown.  Jason originally planned a book drive closer to home, but when he learned that the local middle school was closed for renovation, he expanded his vision to benefit a broader population.  The middle school’s principal suggested the East Bay Children’s Book Project, and Jason’s book drive found a home.

The Eagle Project is a massive endeavor, usually requiring upwards of 300 hours.  Jason spent 50 hours planning the book drive over the summer; the scouting board made him specify “every detail of everything,” down to precise information about the boxes he’d use to transport the books.

The actual drive “was easier than I expected – people were happy to help, to do what they could,” says Jason.  He involved his scout troop; his high school’s national honor society, of which he is Vice President; and his friends and neighbors. One friend at a print shop, whom Jason asked for a good price on flyers, donated both the flyers and the book boxes. As Jason put it: “Times are tough, and not everyone can give, but people have special talents and there’s always ways that people can help.”

Jason joined the Cub Scouts twelve years ago and has been a boy scout for eight years.  “Scouting’s great because there’s always lots you can do, but you can take time off if there are other things you are doing, like sports or school work.”  After graduation, Jason hopes to attend Stanford University.  He’s not sure what he’ll study in college, but he doesn’t think he’ll follow in the footsteps of his engineer parents.

At the end of November, Jason will go before the scouting board to discuss his completed project and, we assume, receive the coveted Eagle Scout badge.  But he’s already our hero.

Jason in the Book Project's closet storage space

Jason talks with Book Project client and Board Vice President Ann Daniels

Want to help the East Bay Children’s Book Project but live too far away or don’t have time during the week? You can organize a book drive.

First, choose a time and place.  You could collect books at a school, a religious or social organization, your office, a local store or coffee shop.

Next, design flyers and signs (this is a great project for kids).  Be sure to include what the books are for, what kind of books you want (new or new and gently used children’s books), where people should bring books and how long the drive will last.  If you’re stumped on this, ask us for help; we can also provide brochures.

Post signs and distribute flyers. Provide boxes or collection bins and place them in nice, prominent locations.

Collect the books (on a regular basis so the bins don’t overflow). Count them and sort them by the following categories: board books (books with cardboard pages), picture books, chapter books. If you have a lot of books, you can also sort out non-fiction books. Please recycle anything that is ripped or dirty.  Books that are not for kids or teens should be donated to your local library or charity thrift store.

Deliver the books to 2008 Park Blvd. Please box the books standing up and let us know the total number of books and the number of hours you donated.

Call us at 510-433-0412 or email us at eastbaycbp@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Happy new year!  The East Bay Children’s Book Project humbly offers a few New Year’s resolutions that we hope will make your lives, and those of the East Bay’s children, happier and more book-filled in 2010:

• Come see us! The East Bay Children’s Book Project will re-open on January 5, 2010. We’re at 2008 Park Boulevard in Oakland and we’re open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 to 6.  You can get free books every time we are open, so come early and often!
• Tell a friend, bring a friend!  Our whole purpose is to get as many books as possible into the hands of children in need.  Help us spread the word!
• Help us help you!  Do you know someone whose children have outgrown their books?  A teacher who is retiring and doesn’t know what to do with his classroom library?  Someone who might want to do a book drive?  We accept new and gently used books for children of all ages (for more details: http://www.eastbaychildrensbookproject.org/donate-books/) Or drop a couple of bucks in our jar, or tell a rich relative about us …
• Join our team!  We’ve always got things going on; just email eastbaycbp@gmail.com if you’re interested in joining our terrific all-volunteer team.

And two more, not really related to the Book Project, but near and dear to our heart:

• Go to your local branch library and take something out.  Don’t have a card?  Get one.  Don’t know what to borrow?  Talk to the librarian.  Our libraries are under-utilized treasures, and if we don’t use them, they won’t get funded, and then we won’t have them.  And we will surely miss them if we lose them!
• If you can afford it, buy something at an Oakland bookstore.  Brick-and-mortar stores are having a hard time, but without bookstores our city would surely be a poorer place.  That’s true both metaphorically and literally – money you spend locally stays in the local economy, unlike money you spend online.  Oakland has many terrific stores selling new, used and specialty books: go browse and take something home.  Books are treasures in your home.

We’re looking forward to seeing you soon –

Your friends at the East Bay Children’s Book Project