In early May, the Wallkill School District librarians learned of a unique opportunity available through First Book, a not for profit organization that provides low cost books to kids in need.
In response to the COVID-19 situation, Disney Publishing had donated hundreds of cases of books, and organizations serving children in need could purchase cases for just the cost of shipping - but only if orders could be placed by the end of May.
After four months of distance learning and with public libraries unavailable due to COVID-19, the librarians felt it was important to get physical books in the hands of the students. The Wallkill librarians, led by Libbie Werlau, approached the WTA, Wallkill Teachers Association, to see if they could do a quick fundraiser to purchase five pallets, one for each building, to send home to students in the Wallkill Schools backpack program.
The WTA reached out to the American Federation of Teachers and learned that if they raised $5000 within the three week timeframe, the AFT would help them bring in an entire tractor trailer of books consisting of 24 pallets, a total of nearly 40,000 books. This would ensure that they could offer free books to every student, K-12, in the district. The WTA created a fundraising site through First Book, and reached out to all current and retired members, as well as using social media, asking teachers and community members to contribute what they could by the end of May.
Within only 27 hours, the WTA exceeded its goal, raising a total of $6,066.

Positive Community Impact
On June 15, the tractor trailer full of books arrived at Wallkill High School. The Wallkill Teachers Association had teacher volunteers sort the books by grade level and create bags for every student in the district containing a variety of books. The WTA volunteers began delivering the books to the students’ homes in July.