For the sixth year, Library Media Ambassadors from the Bolles Middle School Bartram Campus helped raise funds and books for each student in every grade level at West Riverside Elementary School.

In addition to encouraging family, faculty and friends to purchase books from students’ wish list during the winter book drive, ambassadors staged a soda and snack sale to raise funds to cover the purchase of any books still left on the list. Students raised $250 from the fundraiser.

The collection and sale yielded 320 books for students at West Riverside. But the hard work continued. Ambassadors collected the books and wrapped each one individually during their free time in Pratt Library. Like Santa, they checked each West Riverside class list to make sure each child in every class had the book they hoped to receive. Bolles Middle School Librarian Jamie Sanborn then took the numerous bags of books – which had been stashed in all available space in Pratt Library and quarantined for 72 hours prior to delivery – to their new home at West Riverside Elementary School. In previous years, Bolles LMAs have joined Sanborn in the special distribution event, but the pandemic dictated alternate plans.

Students were still able to witness the joy they helped inspire. Bolles ambassadors gathered in the Pratt Library and connected via livestream with a Pre-K class as they opened their new books with delight. Thank you for demonstrating The Bolles Way, LMA Bulldogs! Enjoy this video, produced by Sanborn, that features a wonderful overview of their hard work.