Girl Scouts collect books for local foster children

• Local Girl Scouts organized a book drive to benefit foster children.
• The youngsters collected roughly 400 books.
• The books will go to foster children living in Licking County.

PATASKALA – A group of Pataskala-area Girl Scouts ensured local foster kids will have plenty of books to read in the coming months and years.

The group, all members of Pataskala Area Girl Scout Troop 1836, coordinated a book drive in conjunction with National Child Abuse Prevention Month, which runs through April.

The youngsters collected roughly 400 books.

They dropped off the books April 16 at the Newark offices of Licking County Job & Family Services.

“We just really like that the girls came up with this idea and initiative,” said Nathan Keirns, a program planner with Licking County Job & Family Services. “(The books) will really benefit local foster kids.”

Girl Scout Junior Ava Wandersleben pitched the idea for the book drive.

She was researching reading and its positive impact on children and adults when she approached her mother, Christina, the troop’s Brownie leader.

“I was just looking things up about reading, and I saw a lot of things about how important it is,” Ava Wandersleben said. “I know a lot of foster kids go through stress and reading can relieve stress, so I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if they had a book of their own to read.’”

Christina Wandersleben felt the effort was suitable for a Brownie community project, so with Ava Wandersleben pitching in, the Brownies started advertising the book drive, distributing fliers and soliciting donations via social media.

The Pataskala Public Library was instrumental in the effort, agreeing to serve as a collection point and also handing out fliers, Christina Wandersleben said.

Come the final day of the effort, the Brownies and even Christina Wandersleben were surprised by the community’s generosity.

Aside from donating the nearly 400 books, many of the books were new, not used.

“Our community is so generous,” Ava Wandersleben said.

Her mother agreed.

“People really do amaze me in Pataskala,” she said. “I was worried we would get rag-tag books, but the vast majority look brand new. I’m just amazed.”

Licking County Job & Family Services officials also were impressed, as were the foster parents who visited the Main Street offices on April 16.

The Brownies, in addition to other members of the troop, carefully organized the books on tables inside the offices, arranging them for specific age groups.

Licking County Job & Family Services oversees 400 foster children, so Keirns said the books will be put to good use.

“We always try to have books on hand as the (foster) kids are waiting for their visits,” said Keirns, noting the youngsters can be anxious as they wait. “Reading is a calming, entertaining distraction for them.”

The children also will be able to take the books home with them, Keirns added.

Watching as the Brownies and other Girl Scouts unpacked and arranged the books, Christina Wandersleben just shook her head in amazement.

“I’m just so proud of my Brownies and (Ava),” she said.