'Birthday Cart ladies' distribute free books to children at Blanchard Elementary

Teachers Donna Sanders and Karen Gibbar worked together for 14 years, and when they retired at the same time from Blanchard Elementary School, they knew they'd miss their school, co-workers and students. So when the school librarian asked if they'd be willing to deliver free books to students on their birthdays, the new retirees were happy to help with the project. The women embellished a rolling library cart with birthday decorations, raised money to fill the cart with books and now return to Blanchard monthly to make the rounds with the Birthday Cart.

"When the kids see us, they recognize us as the 'Birthday Cart ladies,'" says Donna. "It's fun for us because we still love Blanchard; it's still our home. We love visiting with the teachers and keeping up with what's going on in the school, and we like to keep ourselves involved with the kids. The kids are still in our hearts. We love to watch them have a lot of enjoyment in getting their books, and that gives us pleasure."

When the students see Donna and Karen stocking the birthday Cart and rolling it down the hallway, they all make comments about their upcoming birthday and how excited they are to see them.

"Even if it's not their birthday, they know who has birthday in their classroom," says Karen, and they're only too happy to share the news and make sure the Birthday Ladies will be visiting their classroom.

The Birthday Cart has books for all ages, interests and reading levels. The school librarian buys the books, with input from Donna and Karen about what they're running low on and what types of books have been popular. The books are purchased with profits from the school's annual book fair, plus donations from Blanchard parents, teachers and students. Each book comes with a sticker so it becomes a true birthday gift from Blanchard, and students receive a pencil and bookmark along with their new book. Students with summer birthdays also get to visit the Birthday Cart so no one is missed. As new students come to the school, Donna and Karen add them to their birthday list.

"The kids are so happy to see us, the little ones, especially. When we give them book they ask, 'Can I keep this? Can I take this home? Can I keep it all day?'" says Karen. "I tell them, 'You can keep it all day and keep it for the rest of your life. That's your present from Blanchard.' It's really a nice feeling that we get, because they do appreciate it. They wait for us."

Some children don't have a lot of books at home, adds Donna, but thanks to the Birthday Cart, students are at least getting some books at home, and hopefully parents are reading to or with their students.

"Nothing replaces a book," she says. "The more children read, the better readers they become."

In addition to their Birthday Cart duties, both Donna and Karen continue to work as substitute teachers. Donna, who has three grandchildren at Blanchard, says it's important for them to see her volunteering with something that's important to her: reading.

"I'm always talking about different books to children, not just my grandchildren, but to other kids who come to the book cart," she says. "I'll tell them about what book has been really popular this month, or try to get them involved in different genres of reading."

And for big readers like Donna and Karen, it's encouraging to see children so interested in books, even in the age of smartphones, video games and other technology.

"So many people are getting away from books, but we haven't noticed that so much with these young kids," says Karen. "They really like the fact that they have that physical object in their hand -- a book that they can feel and take home. Reading is just the most important thing anybody ever learned."