04/09/2025
Robert J. Elkington Middle School Hosts Annual Book Drive in Partnership with Project READ
Sixth-Grade Students Collect Over 5,000 Books for Itasca County Families
Grand Rapids, MN – Robert J. Elkington Middle School (RJEMS) once again partnered with Project READ to host its annual Book Drive, where students worked hard to collect books for children throughout Itasca County. This year, the competition was fierce, 6th grade classrooms participating in a fun and inspiring challenge to see who could donate the most books.
The 6th-grade classes rallied together, collecting a total of 5,284 books, which will be distributed to local children through community events, the Children’s Fair, RED bookshelves, and FRED (Families Reading Every Day) events. Project READ's mission is to promote daily reading, supporting families in fostering a love of reading from birth through school age. This event plays a crucial role in ensuring children in the area have access to books that help them grow as readers.
The competition among classes was tight, but in the end, Ms. Petermeier/Zebro's class took the lead with an outstanding 1,297 books donated, dethroning Mr. Carlson's class, who had held the winning title for three consecutive years. Mr. Hendrickson’s class followed closely behind with 1,192 books, while Mr. Otto's class claimed third place with 949 books.
The hard work and dedication of all the students involved was remarkable, and each class made significant contributions to the overall success of the event. For their efforts, the winning class was rewarded with a Casey’s Pizza Party, and second place received a Doughnut Party to celebrate their achievement.
Project READ extends its heartfelt thanks to all those who contributed to making this event a success, including the teachers, office staff, custodians, and volunteers who supported the drive. Special thanks to Wildflower Books for their generous donation of over $500 worth of children’s books and to Casey’s for donating pizzas for the first-place class celebration.
The newly donated books will go a long way in encouraging reading among young children in the community, providing them with essential resources to develop their literacy skills. The sixth grade is a crucial age group for donating books, as it is an ideal time for students to update their personal libraries with books appropriate for older readers. As a special reward, each 6th-grade student received a brand-new book purchased through the Scholastic Book Fair, helping to further support their love for reading.
“It’s inspiring to see the dedication from all of our 6th-grade students. Each year, they continue to raise the bar, and this year’s Book Drive was no exception. We are incredibly proud of their hard work, and we are grateful to all of our community partners who help make this event possible,” said Mr. Adams, RJEMS Principal.
Top 6th Grade Classes in the Book Drive:
1st Place: Petermeier (Zebro): 1,297
2nd Place Hendrickson: 1,192
3rd Place: Otto: 949
4th Place: Holland: 782
5th Place: Drobnick: 370
6th Place: Carlson: 360
7th Place: Grabarkewitz: 201
8th Place: Riehle: 133
Total: 5,284 books donated
Each year, the drive plays an essential role in ensuring that children in Itasca County have access to the books they need to grow as readers. With the support of students, teachers, families, and local businesses, Project READ continues to help foster a culture of reading across the region.
For more information about Project READ or to get involved in future initiatives, visit www.getlearning.org/project-read.
Contact:
Project READ Coordinator | Sueann Nichols |[email protected]
