Hundreds of eager young readers visited the Dr. Paulette P. Harris Literacy Center, Saturday, as Books for Shay held its latest book drive, part of the HUB for Community Innovation’s Back to School Bash.
Books for Shay is one of several programs under Smile for Shay, a nonprofit launched by Chasity and Chris Foster. In 2018, their eldest daughter, Shaylin Foster, died in car accident on the way to school. One year later, as the Fosters considered ways to honor Shaylin’s memory, Chasity got an idea from her professor at the time at Augusta University, Kim Barker.
“We thought, well, we’ll do a book drive, because Shaylin was an avid reader, and so we started collecting books,” said Chasity Foster. Starting at Jenkins-White Elementary School, the drive went on to distribute books to other elementary, middle and high schools, the Salvation Army and literacy events.
Books for Shay collects and distributes free books throughout the year, and Saturday wasn’t the first time it set up shop at the Literacy Center. The charity partnered with AU and the Medical College of Georgia to host a drive there in March, complete with free health screenings. However, they said, the community drive at the Back to School Bash, which ran from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., proved to be one of Books for Shay’s biggest ever.
“All the same groups were together, but the turnout was maybe a third of what we had today,” said Chris Foster, comparing Saturday’s event to the one March. “So this Back to School event definitely was a culmination of, I guess, good timing and planning. Definitely an amazing turnout.”
Consistent with Smile for Shay’s mission to maintain Shaylin’s legacy through works of compassion and empathy, the book drive’s aim, said the Fosters, is to encourage and facilitate literacy for children, especially those disenfranchised.
“When you’re looking at affording groceries, especially this economy, mom and dad don’t always have money to go to Barnes and Noble to buy you new books,” said Chasity. “So for them to come and pick out books that you can see yourself in, and then have that book, I think it’s really important.”
For more information about Smile for Shay, and Books for Shay drives, visit its website at www.smileforshay.com, or its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/smileforshay.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
