  HOME BOARD SERVING CHILDREN PROGRAMS LITERACY PARTNERS VOLUNTEERING WHY BOOKS? BOARD NOMINATIONS/ QUESTIONNAIRE READ SEED P O Box 11518 1415 HOLLOWAY ST DURHAM, NC 27703 919-224-9482 givethembooksnow @yahoo.com |
 
 Adelaide Banks is the founder and Acting Board Chairperson of Read Seed.Doris Blackwell is a Retired Educator and Speech Therapist from the Person County School system. “I have always loved books. I remember the big Bible Story Book that had beautiful color pictures depicting parables and familiar stories. I also had a old Reader that had lovely stores and a poem in Japanese. I liked comic books and read everything I could put my hands on. For me, books are enlightenment, enrichment and enjoyment.”  Valerie Bullaughey is the Community Relations Manager at Barnes & Noble.“When I was in fourth grade, I read one of my all time favorite books, Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson. It was a wonderful story of friendship, but it was extremely sad because one of the children ended up dying in the end. The book made me laugh at times and then bread down into tears at other parts. At the time, I personally had never lost a loed one and this book helped me to understand a little bit about death. One year later, one of my very best friends was killed in a freak accident. I was heartbroken, but I kept thinking back to Bridge to Terabithia and the book really helped me get through one of the most difficult times in my life. I believe that books are such a great way to learn new things and to help prepare us as we journey through life.  Joyce Campbell is a Retired Kindergarten Teacher ands StoryTeller from Philadelphia, PA.“My mother was a librarian. She brought many books home to read to me. I remember Snip, Snap and Snur. My love affair with books began. Every summer I attend the reading club at Stanford L. Warren Library. My interest in books has continued throughout my life. I loved learning about different cultures and people. I especially like historical novels, folk tales, mystery novels and stories from other countries. The love of books has carried over into my occupation as a kindergarten teacher and currently, a storyteller and reader of children’s stories. Reading opens your imagination to all the possibilities in the world.”  Heidi Carter is with the Durham Public Schools Board Of Education. “My favorite children’s book is Charlotte’s Web. I remember well reading it as an elementary age student, and I have enjoyed reading it to my own children when they were young. One of my earliest memories involving books is having my mother read her favorite book to me, “Heidi” by Johann Spyri. In case you haven’t guessed, I am named after the young heroine in that book. I love books because they provide instant entertainment. Reading provides a portal to other worlds and states of being, as well as helping connect us to other people.”  Andolia Eaton Read-A-Thon Namesake and Retired Educator, Durham Schools.“I saw my parents reading every day. There was always newspapers and reading materials in our home. I loved hearing and later reading Bible stories. I also enjoyed Grimm’s Tales. I fell in love with books because they gave me pleasure. Books open up new worlds.”   Marcus Harris is the Acting Vice-Chair &Treasurer, Poet and Author, Founder & President, Lady Oya Foundation, Inc.  Helen Hunter is a Retired Educator, Durham Public Schools, Master Catechist, The Catholic Diocese of Raleigh. “Books were scarce when I was a child. I enjoyed reading the books I had access to. Bible stories were my favorite.”  Barbara Jessie-Black is the Executive Director, PTA Thrift Shop, Inc. “Reading and words have always played in important role in my life. As a child, I watched my father read the daily Stars and Stripes newspaper cover to cover. My mother, although not an avid book reader, always had a crossword puzzle on which she was working. My personal relationship with reading and words came fairly early(age 5) in the form of German magazines. As I got older and entered school, Scholastic Books became my own personal library. I could hardly wait to order books, which we were allowed to do monthly. I would save my allowance (and my parents would add to it, if necessary) so that I could buy the books I wanted. I kept these books way into adulthood, until I finally realized that some other “child” might enjoy these as well, and donated them to a local charity. My favorite books as a child were about individuals who despite great obstacles, persevered and went on to do great things in life. The stories of Helen Keller, Louis Braille, and Sojourner Truth were among my favorites.”  Kimberly Meunier President, MindNurture, Inc. “Right from the beginning both of my parents read to me every day. Pat the Bunny was one of my favorites books. I loved feeling all the different textures on each page. At one point I had a bedtime ritual where my father would read Goodnight Moon to me and we would walk around the house saying goodnight to all the different things in the house. Reading has been a central part of my life right from the beginning. Once I could read on my own, I would read for many different reasons – to escape to a fantasy world, to lean more about history and new subjects, to open my mind to new ideas, to entertain myself when there was nothing else to do, and to help me relax at night before going to bed. Books have been wonderful friends for me.”  Myrtle McNeill is the Retired Director of Media, Durham Public Schools. “Aunt Lummie Jones was a teacher. She introduced me to books and reading with books she make by cutting pictures, words and letters form old Sear Roebuck catalogs. They were great stories too. She would teach me how to make sentences using these letters and words. She also used household items, like letters on the salt box. I have been passionate about books since I was four years old. I used shoeboxes to make my own books. I loved buying comic books for a nickel. Some of my favorite stories were Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella and the Three Bears. I love books because they are inspiring and challenging. They inspire individuals to strive to be more.” Stacey Wilson-Norman is the Executive Director of Elementary Services, Durham Public Schools. | |
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