The Kalona Optimists and Kalona Rotary are partnering in a joint effort to run a book drive from Sunday, Sept. 11, to Sunday, Sept. 18 during international Celebrate Community week.

“We are encouraging community members to donate books that are in good condition and suitable for K-2nd grade,” said Nicole Naraine, project co-chair with Optimist Jenna Wieland.

“These books will be donated to students at the Kalona East Elementary for them to permanently take home and keep,” she pointed out.

“We will be having boxes in which to deposit the books, like the Kalona Rotary Toy Drive last Christmas season,” Naraine said. “We are asking the Kalona Library, the YMCA, the Kalona Chamber, other businesses and local churches to be able to put out a donation boxes that week. We appreciate the help of the businesses for allowing us to place boxes in their firms.”

The book drive is a project of the local clubs as part of the Celebrate Community program which is an annual joint initiative of the service organizations (Optimists International, Rotary International, Kiwanis International and Lions International) the week of September  11 to 18.

Service clubs and youth programs around the world are encouraged to work together on projects like the local book drive during this special week.

“This is a great opportunity for two larger community-oriented groups to come together in a joint initiative to support a common goal -- furthering and encouraging youth literacy,” commented Kalona Rotary President Christian Swartzentruber. 

“Each organization serves an integral role within the community, and each partake in their own specific functions throughout the year,” he added. “However, this is the first time in many, many years the two Clubs have teamed up for a project.  This ultimately shows that both chapters are fully focused on bettering the community, rather than simply ‘gaining publicity’ or advancing their own agenda.”