St. Mary's Donates Books to Campagna Center

By Linda Busetti
HERALD Staff Writer
(From the issue of 5/23/02)

Genevieve Brooks-Cheatham scurried to set out pizza, sandwiches, chips and juice as a well-deserved thank-you to students of St. Mary School in Alexandria for their donation of almost 700 books to the Campagna Kids Program in Alexandria.

As a school service project over the course of a couple of weeks, students collected used books for the Campagna Center’s Campagna Kids Program of before- and after-school care for 1,500 children at 13 Alexandria public schools.

As St. Mary’s student council representatives and National Junior Honor Society members filed into Christ Child Hall in the school’s junior high annex, they were greeted by Brooks-Cheatham, representing the Campagna Center, lunch and a large, colorful banner thanking them for their efforts.

Principal Kathleen Dolan introduced Brooks-Cheatham, who presented a certificate of thanks that was accepted by eighth-grader Lindsay Gilbride on behalf of the school.

Guidance counselor Andy Rapp explained that the project had been easy to implement. Lisa Kepple and Mary Fay were among eighth graders who visited classrooms to tell students about the project. After students brought in used books from home, the eighth-graders returned to pick them up for delivery to the Campagna Center. Rapp was pleased at the success of the collection and hopes to repeat it next year.

The Campagna Center is a human services organization serving Alexandria children and families in need. Other Campagna-sponsored programs include Gap Camp during school vacations, story-telling, enrichment programs and Reading Is Fundamental.

Recently, books were given away to eager readers waiting to register for summer camp. Brooks-Cheatham said the Campagna Kids Program can always use more books. Any individual or group who would like to donate books can contact Sharon Speech at 703/549-0070. The Campagna Center is located at 418 S. Washington St., Alexandria, Va. 22314. 

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