King’s Way 6th-graders collect 771 books for shelter

Hazel Dell — King’s Way Christian School sixth-graders collected books from mid-April through May as part of a book drive for Open House Ministries, a family shelter in Vancouver. The students collected 771 books for toddlers up to teens, bringing some in from home, collecting from neighbors and even purchasing books to donate. On May 28, sixth-graders Sydney Agan, Ellie Dick, Sara Thudium and Stephanie Clark and their teacher Betsy Zoesch brought the books to Open House. “We were told that the books we gave to them will be added to the day care center in the shelter as well as the lending library, which is available for all the residents,” Zoesch said in an email. “When the residents are ready to move into other housing, they will be able to take the books with them.” She also added that this was the first time the sixth-graders have organized a book drive, and she hopes it becomes a yearly event, benefiting a different organization each year.