Even though the last year has been filled with sadness and uncertainty, it has also brought out the best in many people.

For example, one Augusta mom wanted to keep with the literacy of local kids, so she stepped up to make it happen.

According to the KJ, Crystal Schmidt's goal was to get a $5 book in the hands of every Augusta student between the ages of Kindergarten and 6th grade.

She quickly realized she was not going to be able to do it alone and enlisted the help of local businesses.

Last week, she made her goal of raising $3,500.  Contributors included Sprague & Curtis Real Estate, Capital Area Credit Union, Walmart,  Maine State Credit Union and Augusta County Federal Credit Union.  Each business donated $500 toward the cause.  Usborne Books & More, Schmidt's employer, matched the donations and gave Schmidt about $6,000 to buy books.

There are enough books for the 1,080 students in the Augusta elementary schools to each get a book.  Those books will go home on the day the kids leave for February break.

Sarah Landry, the principal of Gilbert School helped with the book selections.

Schmidt hopes getting a new book will encourage kids to read more.

Landry said that, at Gilbert Elementary, she is planning contest where the student who reads the most books over the break will get a prize.


 

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