The Rotary Club of Greater Lake Forest (provisional) has donated a little library to Gates Elementary School. Students will be able to take and share free books to and from the little library, which is located in the middle of the campus.
Intended to inspire young readers by adding a little more fun to reading, the little library is customized for Gates Elementary School, including a painting of an alligator, which celebrates the school’s “Gator” mascot.
“The little library is being used as a community resource to give all of our students access to free books,” says Gates Elementary teacher Cynthia Micka. “The library helps promote literacy and allows our student to contribute to their community by also donating their books. Our students are enjoying taking books home with them or leaving a book for others to enjoy. ”
Cedric Campbell, a founder of the Rotary Club of Greater Lake Forest (GLF), led the project to bring the little library to Gates Elementary. According to Campbell, the project grew life when a Gates Elementary educator attended the presentation of a little library to the Santa Ana Zoo by the Rotary Club of Santa Ana on behalf of Open Hands of Hope. Marta Ramirez Rodriguez, a member of the Santa Ana club who led the Santa Ana Zoo donation, introduced the Gates educator to Campell.
Campell says “Because of Marta’s Rotary spirit of “service above self” and GLF Rotarian Clifford Beaver, who built the library, we are able to support the needs of almost 1,000 young students in an underserved community.”
Campbell is in the process of completing the application process to take the GLF club from a provisional club to a charter club within Rotary District 5320. He encourages local community members to join the organization which will focus on youth programs, serving underserved populations (like homeless, vets, elders and people facing mental health issues), and establishing relationships with local businesses.
The Rotary Club of Greater Lake Forest meets weekly on Tuesday from 5 to 6:30 pm at various locations throughout the city. Club meeting locations and additional information are available at greaterlakeforest.rotary5320.org.
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