UPDATE: Book donations to Camp Resurreccion have been AMAZING!! Thank you to everyone who has stepped up and mailed or delivered books. We are a little light on books for younger children, especially PICTURE BOOKS, so if anyone is moved to mail a few picture books to the address below before July 1, I would be SO grateful!!
To my beloved Kid Lit Community: authors, illustrators, librarians, book sellers:
I am reaching out to ask you to consider making a donation of new or gently used books for children ages 3-20, to a cause that is important to me.
This summer, I will be volunteering at Camp Resurreccion, serving children of Spanish speaking farm workers in the Skagit Valley of Washington State. I will be teaching art workshops at this wonderful camp that serves kids who may otherwise be at loose ends during the summer while their parents are hard at work on area farms. I would love to be able to share your wonderful books with these kids--books for them to cherish and keep, and books to swap and share with their siblings and friends. The camp is for kids ages 3-11, but there will be many teenagers working as camp counselors who would also be thrilled to take a book home.
The Skagit Valley is one of Washington's largest producers blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, tulips, daffodils, and specialty potatoes. More tulip, iris, and daffodil bulbs are produced here than in any other county in the U.S.. It's productivity is vital to our state and national economy, and it's workers are primarily latinx.
Please read more about the camp from director Julie Davis:
“Grace Camp Resurrección 2018 is a partnership with Grace Epsicopal Church, Bainbridge Island and La Iglesia De La Resurrección Church in Mt. Vernon, WA. The mission is to bring a week long day camp to Resurrección Church, which serves Spanish speaking families who primarily work on the farms in the area. The long summer work days for parents in this community leave children without much supervision. Camp not only provides a safe place, but a fun and educational experience for the children. Teen Crew Leaders, Volunteers, and Church Staff bring art, reading, science, math, fun games, skits, music, hot meals, play, etc. to 80 children ages 3-11 for the week of July 15-20.
Books are always a need for this community. We have backpacks donated from Dakine for each child who attends Grace Camp Resurrección. Our hope is that they get to fill those backpacks with books to take home and read for the rest of the summer. “
If you are willing to contribute new or gently used children’s books to this important cause, please package them safely and mail them by July 1 to:
Camp Resureccion, Grace Episcopal Church, 8595 NE Day Rd, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
And drop me a note, jennifer at jenniferkmann dot com, just to let me know.
In gratitude,
Jen