Community of Readers seeks donations

With the dawn of the New Year comes the opportunity to buy and donate books for First Community Bank's sixth annual Community of Readers program.

The initiative, which began with a casual conversation among Karen DeBack of First Community Bank and her friends at Paul's Restaurant in Elgin, has grown to become an annual community tradition. Over the years, generous donors have given more than 35,000 books to needy families and students at Elgin Area District U-46 schools.

"We don't have a set goal this year," said DeBack. "But we hope to provide enough books to our partner schools, as well as several other local nonprofits that have already made requests, such as the Literacy Connection, the YWCA and the Community Crisis Center.

"We are trying to be sensitive to the fact these are challenging times. We hope people donate as they are able."

Guy and Patti Kaplowitz, longtime owners of Napa Auto and Truck Parts in Elgin and South Elgin are serving as honorary co-chairs of the 2009 Community of Readers. Guy Kaplowitz said he and his wife have supported the outreach since its inception in 2003 because they believe in the importance of early childhood reading and the need for home reading materials.

"With the popularity of video games and text messaging among youth today, it's almost as if reading has become a lost art," said Kaplowitz, who has grown children.

"If you can read, you can go to the library and learn almost any subject or discipline. Reading can expand your imagination and stretch your mind."

Kaplowitz encourages his 40 or so employees in the Elgin and South Elgin stores to donate books. He and his wife have also made it a tradition to head to a local bookstore in early January, pick out 15 to 20 new books and include them in the store's contribution.

"It's a lot of fun," he said. "Since our businesses and home (are) in the community, it's important for us to support something that is local and benefits so many nearby students and families."

Readers can donate new and gently-read books appropriate for youth ages preschool through grade school now through Jan. 31 to First Community's two Elgin locations at 165 S. Randall Road southeast of the Route 20 interchange and at the northeast corner of Big Timber Road and McLean Boulevard in the Tyler Creek Shopping Plaza. The banks are open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.

"Our objective is to collect books in good condition, and offer them to organizations that serve School District U-46 families," explained DeBack. "These organizations provide books to families whose children may not have home reading materials. By increasing a family's access to books, adults can read to children, the child's reading achievement will improve and their success in school will follow."

For information, contact DeBack at (847) 622-8800, ext. 307 or by e-mail at kdeback@firstcombank.com.