Vernon Hills teen collects enough books to stock a library
A Vernon Hills teen has combined her love of reading with a charity project that will benefit sick children.
As part of her bat mitzvah project, Rachel Jacoby, 13, collected more than 1,500 new and gently used books to be donated to Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago.
The Hawthorn Middle School eighth-grader was inspired to help Children's after remembering the care her younger sister Leah received when she was a patient a number of years ago.
"My sister wasn't there very long but I remember how well they treated her," Rachel said. "I felt like I wanted to give something back to them."
Rachel let people know about the collection by distributing fliers at school and to friends and family. She put the word out online in e-mail and on other social networking sites.
Rachel's mom, Kim Jacoby, said the family was surprised and pleased by the response.
"She's an avid reader and wanted to do a project related to reading," Kim said. "We never imagined she would get this good of response."
The books filled more than 20 boxes the family stored in their garage. Titles included everything from "Green Eggs and Ham" to "Pride and Prejudice."
The books will be placed in the hospital's White Elephant Resale Shop, Jacoby said.
Parents who visit the shop can purchase them for a nominal fee. That money is then donated to the hospital.
White Elephant spokeswoman Mabel Rivera said the books will really help the kids who eventually read them.
"Parents will come in an purchase a grocery bag full of books," Rivera said. "They bring them up to the rooms and read with their kids. It takes everyone's mind off the illness at least for awhile."
Rachel knows her effort can't take away the physical pain some of the patients might be enduring. But she hopes the books can take some of the edge off.
"I know how just sitting and reading a book can calm you down," she said. "I imagine there are kids waiting for treatment or an operation who could really use the distraction."