Storybook drive supports charity

Students brought in more than 700 children’s storybooks for the book drive during Homecoming week, according to assistant principal Karen Hyde.

The Homecoming commission hosted the drive to give back to the community. The drive was specifically selected because it fit with this year’s Homecoming theme—children’s storybooks.

The books were donated to Ronald McDonald House Charity and Sacred Heart Community Center. The drive was supposed to promote class spirit and friendly competition throughout the grade levels in a way that contributes to charity.

“[The purpose] was to take class spirit one more step, and in the process, do something special for somebody else,” Hyde said.

From Sept. 26 to Sept. 30, students brought books and put them in the boxes in the office that corresponded with their grade level.

The senior class donated the most books, with the junior, freshman and sophomore classes placing second, third, and fourth, respectively.

The books were taken to the charities on Oct. 3. The new storybooks were donated to Ronald McDonald House, an organization affiliated with Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital; they work to create a “home away from home” environment to help families with serious or terminally ill children stay close to their kids.

The other storybooks were donated to Sacred Heart Community Center, which gives back to the poorer families in Santa Clara County.

Though the book drive lasted only one short week, organizers considered it a success.

“Personally I was thrilled. Anytime that we can do something nice for somebody else, [my mindset is] ‘lets do it,’” Hyde said.