By Tim Reaves
BCS Communications Department
Community kindness continues to pour out while we weather the storm together!
On Monday, Buncombe County Library staff delivered more than 500 new and used books and 250 activity kits to our
Family Resource Center. These books and craft activities will give families more hands-on learning opportunities and new materials to read together. The donations came from the library and from Friends of Buncombe County Libraries, Inc.
“We’re so proud of everything BCS teachers and staff have done, and we just wanted to help in a small way,” said Weaverville Branch Manager Jesse Figuera, who helped organize the donation. “We just really want the kids to know that we miss them, and they really matter.”
The kits contain pencils, crayons, safety scissors, independent early learning activities, and a journal. The library is posting fun activities on the county
Facebook page, encouraging families to write, draw, and create while staying home. Through
Project StudentAccess, every public-school student and employee can use their student ID as a library card.
“We’re putting up art challenges for children and adults, and any responses we get we’re going to save for an exhibit and book after this is all over,” Ms. Figuera said. “We’re all in this together, and it feels really good to read, write, and make things to show how we feel.”
Jennifer Prince, Youth Services Specialist at the Fairview Branch, and Enka Branch Library Associate Theresa Wallace delivered carloads of books and activity bags on Monday. BCS Digital Learning and Media Specialist Jennifer Hand and her husband, Jeff, helped bring the supplies into the Family Resource Center at Martin L. Nesbitt, Jr. Discovery Academy.
“A book in the hand is important, especially for younger children,” Ms. Hand said. “It allows them to have less screen time and more blended learning. These books are going to help our students continue to read with their families while they’re doing Virtual Days, and that’s a wonderful gift.”