A "NOVEL" way to Help Those In Need

Over the weekend, I received a request for help from a fraternity brother that is teaching at a specialized school district in Chester, PA. Her school does not have the money to purchase literature for her students that are up against reading level requirements to meet PSSA (state education standards). These are students that live in a challenged area and have made a commitment to meet GPA and educational standards to attend this school.

The request for help is simple, they need novels for their literature classes in order to meet state education standards and testing. The teacher has made a list on Amazon and has already included the shipping information. The books can be new or used and will continue to reach students long after this school year. There are literally books that you can buy and send for less than a dollar!

By purchasing even a single book, you can help students this year and years to come. I've included a snip-it of the request I received below so that you can learn about some of the demographics of her school district. I do hope that you will consider buying a book from this list: http://amzn.com/w/2PLS52UH1NNO9

I work at a specialized school within the Chester Upland Public School District called Smedley Allied Health High School. My students had to have certain GPA requirements and go through an interview process to get in, and it helped if they had an interest in a health career. I teach 100 9th grade boys and girls. I'm writing you today because I and my students need your help.

I understand that it's almost the holiday season, and it's also a recession. However, I wouldn't ask if I didn't really need your help. My district just doesn't have the money to buy novels for my students, and they desperately need to read novels to improve their reading levels (our PSSA scores are literally the worst in Pennsylvania). I have a list of five novels that I need 30 copies each of on a wish-list I've created on Amazon.com. I'm not asking anyone to buy a whole set - one or two would even be helpful. Whatever you can spare/afford, I would really appreciate it.

Just to give you an idea of the poverty in Chester and therefore of our district, the average income of a Chester resident is $13,000 a year. That's average - not the lowest. In the United States, a family of three making $18,000/year is the poverty line - anything below that is considered extremely poor. Most students in Chester don't even graduate from high school, let alone go to college. Only 1 out of every 3 people over the age of 25, living in Chester, has a high school diploma. I want my students to be different. I want them to succeed, and right now, they want to too. I just need to help them learn to read and develop their skills, but to do that, I need novels, and I need your help to get them.

Here's the link to my wish-list. Like I said - whatever you can afford, I would greatly appreciate. Also, please forward this to any friends or other family you may think would be willing to help out. http://amzn.com/w/2PLS52UH1NNO9