Teacher's chance meeting brings 1,500 books through Operation: Kid Equip

A chance meeting two weeks ago at the Alternative Gift Fair at Hope Lutheran Church will mean 1,500 new books for students at Daly Elementary in Inkster.

At the event, Laura Hutten, a staff member at Daly, came across a display table for Operation: Kid Equip, which acts as a conduit for collecting and distributing tangible goods and supplies to school-aged children. Instantly excited about their mission, she shared that due to a shortage of funds, Daly Elementary has been unable to open their library.

In assessing the needs of this particular school, Operation: Kid Equip discovered at least 87% of Daly Elementary students are on the Free and Reduced Lunch Program. Even more startling is that a good number of the students are transient (with some living in motels). Hence, transportation and money is often a problem in driving to the local library or visiting a bookstore.

It is in circumstances such as these that the services of Operation: Kid Equip are extremely important and vital to the community, said co-founder Menachem Kniespeck. Rather than getting wrapped up in the economics and politics facing the school, community and state, Operation: Kid Equip attempts to provide the best possible solution for the current educational needs of our children.

Just before the Winter break, with the cooperation of Michigan friends, Operation: Kid Equip will provide brand new reading books for every child enrolled at Daly Elementary School. Each student will receive 5 books. Also, each third grader in the school will receive a new dictionary courtesy of the ongoing Positive Detroit/Operation: Kid Equip Collaboration.

The total: About 1,500 brand new books.

Teachers from Daly Elementary School will also be given access to the winter wear collected at various Operation: Kid Equip Winter Wear Drive locations. This seasonal program provides winter jackets, hats and gloves to children coming to school without them.

To make a financial contribution to help with this effort, please click this link: http://bit.ly/ERFKe or visit the Operation: Kid Equip website at http://www.operationkidequip.org