UPDATE: Tuscan Teacher Leads Sandy Book Drive

Claire Sinclair updates Patch readers via email on the book drive:

Tuscan collected over 3,500 books. Seth Boyden dropped off many boxes and bags as well...I'd estimate at least 500. Lois and Andrea of Bookbgone came by and picked up the books and brought them to their facility in Union. They were immediately transferred to be delivered to Belmar, NJ where they will be distributed to the public library as well as the Belmar Elementary school.  

There were so many volunteers, but the stand out ones...are, Juli and Phil Lipoff, Dave Sinclair, Chris Costanza and Melissa Sheehy.

Tuscan Elementary School and Seth Boyden School are currently holding book donation drives to benefit schools whose libraries were destroyed by Hurricane Sandy.

"A few weeks ago, my son Drew was cleaning off his book shelves and he asked where he could give his books that he is done with," said Tuscan teacher Claire Sinclair, who spearheaded the drive. "We thought about it and heard about schools damaged or destroyed by the hurricane."  

Sinclair contacted Bookbgone, a company that distributes books to those in need. The company told her of several schools in Lavalette, Queens and Coney Island that had lost their libraries, and were in dire need of new books.

After getting the go-ahead from Tuscan Principal Malikah Majeed, Sinclair launched the drive schoolwide with assistance from PTA President Sharon Huetz. The drive is running concurrently with the Scholastic Book Fair through the rest of this week.

Parents from Seth Boyden School heard about the initiative and decided to hold a similar drive at their school.

"I cannot believe how many books have already been dropped off," said Sinclair. Maplewood's Words Bookstore has also contributed books to the drive.

Parents can donate new or gently used books geared toward children in grades K-8.