Photo: Luanne Kustra unloads books for sorting and distribution to New Opportunities, just in time for a Holly Jolly Reading Christmas break.
Katie (Kustra) Sparks was in sixth grade at St. Lawrence, and she and her mother, Luanne Kustra, had gotten involved with volunteering to wrap gifts for families at Christmas time, when Katie said, “I don’t see any books mom.”
Every Christmas since then, they have collected books, gone to garage sales and taken donations to buy new and used books in the Holly Jolly Reading book drive. Luanne collects these year-round and when they get a good store, they deliver them to New Opportunities. Katie graduated from Kuemper in 2012, is now married and expecting a baby, but Luanne says the spirit of giving that was initiated that day wrapping presents has lived on.
The books being collected now will be available at New Opportunities for families to pick selections for the holiday and the school break. Kustra estimates that she has collected over 500 so far this season and says she will be happy to take more at any time. Kustra and her daughter embody the spirit of giving with this drive as well as their annual Stuff the Bus food drive held each year in mid-November for the Carroll Community of Concern food pantry. Kustra said she learned about giving at an early age, and it is something she wants to live on past her.
Kustra will be taking book donations throughout the holiday season, and anytime in the coming year. Anyone wishing to make a donation can call her at 790-5244 and she will pick them up or they can be dropped off at 1819 North Highland Drive.
