Books were displayed and students got to choose their favorite as a present from the Bandera County Retired Teachers Association.
The Bandera County Retired Teachers Association delivered over 800 books to county elementary school students during the first week in December.
The BCRTA Book Project is an annual drive to collect new and gently used books for students at the elementary level. One of the principles of the Retired Teachers Association is to get books in the hands of children.
The group distributed books at Utopia School, Medina Elementary, Alkek Elementary and Hill Country Elementary. This year, Pre-K to second grade students received a book from the group to take home, read and start their own personal library.
The BCRTA collects books and donations from members all year long to support this book drive. The statewide organization (Texas Retired Teachers’ Association) noted local chapters collected and distributed 144,237 books in 2022 to elementary students.
After topping last year’s book collection number by about 44 books, the Bandera County Retired Teachers sent volunteers to help at each school so that students could select a favorite book to read over the Christmas holidays.
Books were displayed in the libraries of each elementary and students were allowed to browse and select their favorite.
“It went well this week,” Book Project Chairperson Deeanne Mazurek commented. “Lots of kids were present. They were very excited to get to take a book home with them today.”
Teachers of absent students selected books for those youngsters.
The BCRTA will begin fundraising this spring with a Spring bake sale to provide scholarships for seniors who plan to go into the field of education.
The Bandera County Retired Teachers Association has 95 members from all states and areas of the school business: bus drivers, cafeteria workers, aides, teachers and administrators.
Other individuals interested in education can also join as associate members.
For more information contact Membership Chair Sharon Anderwald at the group’s Facebook page.
