BETHLEHEM, PA - They’ve been busy at work, their schedules booked. That’s what happens when you distribute a million free books to local children.
“People have books that their kids have outgrown and so those books get donated and get passed on to kids who don’t have any books or kids who would like more books,” says Cops ‘N Kids volunteer, Barbara Hollenbach, “It’s grown, it’s evolved over time and again it’s only really through the generosity of the community that we’ve been able to do it so it’s really a tribute to the community.”
Cops ‘N Kids is celebrating a major milestone and it’s no exaggeration. The Lehigh Valley chapter has officially given away one million books to children across the region in their 13 years of operation here in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
“Seeing that the millionth book has been given out to the community it gets at my heart,” says college volunteer Josaiah Vasquez.
“I started volunteering when we were at like 750 thousand so in just four years it seems like every year we just keep making it closer and closer,” explains another college student and volunteer, Taylor Rezac, “So I don’t know what the next goal is but I guess it’s to touch every life in the community.”
For Cops ‘N’ Kids Lehigh Valley president and South Side Bethlehem native, Beverly Bradley, the book is the catalyst. But really it’s all about nurturing a community and making every child feel special.
“One of the common denominators in life for kids who have a difficult time in life’ they can’t read. And so if we can hook children early and make them know--we always tell them, how smart you are, can you read that book? And they say yes! And they’ll come back and sometimes read to the volunteers to show them,” explains Cops ‘N Kids Lehigh Valley President, Beverly Bradley, “That caring about the child and teaching them to love reading will change their entire life. I’m hoping that’s what we give these children-a sense of their value, because if you value yourself you won’t destroy yourself.”
As a matter of full disclosure, PBS39 will honor Bradley and others later this year during the media company’s Good Neighbor Awards. The retired teacher was inspired to kick start a local chapter of the national initiative after she heard Julia Burney Witherspoon’s story. Back in 1997, the then Wisconsin police officer responded to a burglary call. That call lead her to a warehouse of children’s books. Instead of letting those books gather more dust, she began distributing them to disadvantaged youth from right out of the trunks of police cars.
“This was started by a police officer for that reason! She came from a very difficult childhood environment. And she said, the police, you have a love-hate relationship with them because they’re taking your dad away or they’re taking your mom away or your brother,” Bradley explains, “And so I love this because the children get to know these police officers as good human beings who care about them. And every time they’re at an event, I love it, the kids hug them at the end. And I think if these children are in a situation where life is presenting challenges, they will not be fearful in going for help from someone who is a friend and they look at them like friends and who do care.”
Today, there are more than 115 Cops N’ Kids chapters around the globe. But the Lehigh Valley chapter is one of the few with this distinct honor; distributing one million books to local kids for free.Cops ‘N’ Kids regularly holds free events in their reading room at Northampton Community College’s Fowler Family Southside center. Each reading program involves storytelling, participation in special activities and five free books for every child to take home. Narah and Nazeh have been coming to the reading room for six years now. Hard to imagine since they’re only in the fourth grade...
“It was a book lovers’ dream because every time you come here you can find whatever you’re looking for. Whenever you see things that you want to see, it’s here” says Nazeh. “And you can get it for free and you’ll have more books!” adds her twin sister, Nareh.
But beyond the pages, the program helps foster positive interactions and experiences between children and those sworn to protect them. Today it’s the Bethlehem Police Department and their K9 Officer Silver. But the fire department, mounted police, county sheriff and Lehigh University police have all volunteered their time to make sure local children and their love of reading is bound to grow.
“When we bring Silver around it makes everyone a bit happier and it’s an extra kick we get,” explains Officer Douglass Nothstein, “It’s like a therapy dog out in the public and they get to see that again, police, we’re out here and we’re doing things but we’re not always on the bad side. There’s a lot of nice, good things that people don’t get to see.”
Officers DeFrank and Nothstein tell PBS39, because the nature of police work oftentimes fosters interactions with people on some of the worst days, this program offers a unique space to engage and show children, they’re just like them...
“We typically go to all types of situations that are involving some type of crisis; a car accident, an argument, a theft, a burglary and it’s hard to make a connection because you’ve got all this other stuff that you’ve got to deal with,” explains Officer DeFrank, “Coming to the Cops N Kids reading room, it’s a chance for people to see us just like any other person.”
Cops N Kids of the Lehigh Valley also holds events all year long; connecting kids and their communities through literacy. It’s all done through one book, one experience and one child at a time. And at the rate they’re going, it’ll be no time until another million books are in the hands of the Lehigh Valley’s children.
“People have books that their kids have outgrown and so those books get donated and get passed on to kids who don’t have any books or kids who would like more books,” says Cops ‘N Kids volunteer, Barbara Hollenbach, “It’s grown, it’s evolved over time and again it’s only really through the generosity of the community that we’ve been able to do it so it’s really a tribute to the community.”
Cops ‘N Kids is celebrating a major milestone and it’s no exaggeration. The Lehigh Valley chapter has officially given away one million books to children across the region in their 13 years of operation here in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
“Seeing that the millionth book has been given out to the community it gets at my heart,” says college volunteer Josaiah Vasquez.
“I started volunteering when we were at like 750 thousand so in just four years it seems like every year we just keep making it closer and closer,” explains another college student and volunteer, Taylor Rezac, “So I don’t know what the next goal is but I guess it’s to touch every life in the community.”
For Cops ‘N’ Kids Lehigh Valley president and South Side Bethlehem native, Beverly Bradley, the book is the catalyst. But really it’s all about nurturing a community and making every child feel special.
“One of the common denominators in life for kids who have a difficult time in life’ they can’t read. And so if we can hook children early and make them know--we always tell them, how smart you are, can you read that book? And they say yes! And they’ll come back and sometimes read to the volunteers to show them,” explains Cops ‘N Kids Lehigh Valley President, Beverly Bradley, “That caring about the child and teaching them to love reading will change their entire life. I’m hoping that’s what we give these children-a sense of their value, because if you value yourself you won’t destroy yourself.”
As a matter of full disclosure, PBS39 will honor Bradley and others later this year during the media company’s Good Neighbor Awards. The retired teacher was inspired to kick start a local chapter of the national initiative after she heard Julia Burney Witherspoon’s story. Back in 1997, the then Wisconsin police officer responded to a burglary call. That call lead her to a warehouse of children’s books. Instead of letting those books gather more dust, she began distributing them to disadvantaged youth from right out of the trunks of police cars.
“This was started by a police officer for that reason! She came from a very difficult childhood environment. And she said, the police, you have a love-hate relationship with them because they’re taking your dad away or they’re taking your mom away or your brother,” Bradley explains, “And so I love this because the children get to know these police officers as good human beings who care about them. And every time they’re at an event, I love it, the kids hug them at the end. And I think if these children are in a situation where life is presenting challenges, they will not be fearful in going for help from someone who is a friend and they look at them like friends and who do care.”
Today, there are more than 115 Cops N’ Kids chapters around the globe. But the Lehigh Valley chapter is one of the few with this distinct honor; distributing one million books to local kids for free.Cops ‘N’ Kids regularly holds free events in their reading room at Northampton Community College’s Fowler Family Southside center. Each reading program involves storytelling, participation in special activities and five free books for every child to take home. Narah and Nazeh have been coming to the reading room for six years now. Hard to imagine since they’re only in the fourth grade...
“It was a book lovers’ dream because every time you come here you can find whatever you’re looking for. Whenever you see things that you want to see, it’s here” says Nazeh. “And you can get it for free and you’ll have more books!” adds her twin sister, Nareh.
But beyond the pages, the program helps foster positive interactions and experiences between children and those sworn to protect them. Today it’s the Bethlehem Police Department and their K9 Officer Silver. But the fire department, mounted police, county sheriff and Lehigh University police have all volunteered their time to make sure local children and their love of reading is bound to grow.
“When we bring Silver around it makes everyone a bit happier and it’s an extra kick we get,” explains Officer Douglass Nothstein, “It’s like a therapy dog out in the public and they get to see that again, police, we’re out here and we’re doing things but we’re not always on the bad side. There’s a lot of nice, good things that people don’t get to see.”
Officers DeFrank and Nothstein tell PBS39, because the nature of police work oftentimes fosters interactions with people on some of the worst days, this program offers a unique space to engage and show children, they’re just like them...
“We typically go to all types of situations that are involving some type of crisis; a car accident, an argument, a theft, a burglary and it’s hard to make a connection because you’ve got all this other stuff that you’ve got to deal with,” explains Officer DeFrank, “Coming to the Cops N Kids reading room, it’s a chance for people to see us just like any other person.”
Cops N Kids of the Lehigh Valley also holds events all year long; connecting kids and their communities through literacy. It’s all done through one book, one experience and one child at a time. And at the rate they’re going, it’ll be no time until another million books are in the hands of the Lehigh Valley’s children.