Clifford Rotarian Trish Palmer discovered a school in Kugaaruk, Nunavut was lost to fire last fall.
Supporting education is one of the Clifford Rotary Club’s six areas of focus, so Palmer took on the task of promoting a literacy project to collect books, magazines, and funds to replenish the school’s library.
Over several months Trish has collected new and gently used children’s books ranging in interest level from Kindergarten to Grade 12.
National Geographic and Reader’s Digest magazines are also being collected.
To date, a total of 50 kilograms of books were shipped by air, three boxes to a school in Naujaat, Nunavut and one box to Coral Harbour, Nunavut. Each 14 to 18kg box costs approximately $100 to send so cash donations are also appreciated.
“I have been in contact by email with a teacher in Naujaat and she thanks us for all the books that we are sending,” Palmer.
“The kids are so excited about these books. We take going to a book store for granted, but these kids never have the opportunity for something like this when everything is flown in and a loaf of bread can cost up to $10.”
Palmer can be reached at 519-327-8142 or trishpalmer@wightman.ca She is grateful for the support and would like to extend an invitation to continue to add to her ever-growing collection of books.
She has since learned that “some of these northern communities are working with school libraries which have not seen many new books since the 1980s and ‘90s and those books that they have are badly worn.
“There is a great need for books for all ages. Help us to help others.”
For more details about Rotary Clubs projects around the world, visit www.rotary.org.
