Elaine Iabone (left), a teaching assistant at Northwood Elementary school, and Derya Inan, a McDonald’s employee, work together behind the counter during the Books for Len event, which raises money for Northwood’s library and brings in book donations for the Books on Buses program. For 12 years, the staff at Hilton’s Northwood Elementary School have been pitching in at the McDonald’s Restaurant on Long Pond and Latta Roads to help children become better readers. The Books for Len program honors former teacher Len O’Lare, who died unexpectedly in 2000. Teacher Pam Rapp started the event because of the difference O’Lare made in her daughter’s life by helping her develop a love for reading.
Rapp paired with Elaine Rode, McDonald’s supervisor, to get the restaurant to donate a portion (20 percent) of the proceeds from the two-night event for the purchase of books for the Northwood library and to bring in guest authors. Teachers volunteer to work behind the counter and their students get a kick out of having their teachers wait on them. Even retired teachers come back to volunteer for the event.
Each new book purchased from the proceeds receives a stamp that reads, “Books for Len” and a starfish picture. The starfish refers to a story that O’Lare told his students about a man walking along a beach throwing starfish back in the ocean. When someone remarked, “You’ll never save them all.” The man replied, “Even if I just save one, I’ve made a difference.”
Northwood students aren’t the only ones who benefit from the program. Students and staff also donate eight to 10 boxes of children’s books for the Rochester-Genesee Regional Transportation Authority’s (RGRTA) Books on Buses program. The benefits of books on buses are said to be many. Beyond simply giving children something to do while on the bus, it is an opportunity for parents to spend quality time reading to their children. It gives children who may not have books in the home easy access to them while going about their everyday routines. It also makes public transportation more welcoming for children.
McDonald’s also donates lunch and delivers it to the first and second place classes who have the most students participating in Books for Len. “The teachers at Northwood are wonderful to support this event and give of their time,” said Rapp. “It’s a positive event for everyone involved.”
