For some children, the week of their school book fair can feel magical: Dollar bills stuffed in their pockets ready to be spent, the anticipation of selecting a book all on their own, the excitement of finding a comfy spot at home and cracking that brand new cover and settling in to read. But for other children, it can be a time when their own family’s tight budget renders them feeling left out, ashamed or just plain sad.

Heights High science teacher Nicole Zubik recently shared a meme on Facebook that said as much. As comments poured in, detailing painful memories of past book fairs, she and her colleague, math teacher Becky McDonald, realized they could do something about it.  

Ms. McDonald’s children attend Canterbury Elementary, so she’d seen the flyers announcing the upcoming Scholastic Book Fair. Ms. Zubik happens to live in the very same neighborhood, so the two reached out to Principal Dr. Erica Wigton and offered their help. With nothing more than a Facebook post, they collected $775 in two days from friends, family, neighbors and their fellow Heights High teachers.

They hand delivered the cash to Canterbury kindergarten teacher Lisa Stewart, who was running the book fair, so she could distribute it to teachers who would get it in the hands of children. This meant that the students had actual money, not a coupon signifying that they were in need, to use when their class went shopping.

As a high school teacher, Ms. Zubik can see the importance of early reading. “Readers are more empathetic and a little kinder; they’ve experienced different worlds and different cultures through books. They’re the ones who want to know what happens next.”

Ms. McDonald agrees. “As a parent myself, I can see how kids who read have a curiosity about the world. Even in Algebra 1, that curiosity matters.”

They have helped foster that empathy and curiosity in hundreds more students at Canterbury, not only through their fundraising but also by collecting and donating gently used books to be stored on the Free Book cart in the school library.

“We are ever so grateful to everyone who donated money to ensure that as many books got into the hands of as many students as possible!” said Ms. Stewart.