Books by the Truck Load

By Katherine Antes
Contributing Writer

When Santa checks his list this Christmas, he's sure to find a check mark in the "nice" column for Alvin third grader, Alexandra Ramirez, who lent time and effort this season to collecting books for the less fortunate.

Her mother, Maria Grmela, says it all began when Alvin Primary third grade teacher, Missy Nichols, introduced her students to a movie titled Pay It Forward, in which students learned about the importance of sharing and helping others.

In the movie, when an individual wishes to show appreciation for a good deed they've benefited from, they are instructed to do so by performing three more good deeds for others, thus, keeping the cycle of good deeds flowing.

This movie was shown as a precursor to a venture, coordinated by Nichols and tagged the "Forward Project", in which students in her class were organized into groups, and assigned various endeavors in an effort to raise money for the Red Cross in the wake of the "9/11" tragedy.

Alexandra, and her three friends, Tori, Tahreen and Hillary, contributed to the effort, explains Maria, by creating and selling American flag pins, bracelets and key rings. The group was successful, consequently raising over $100 for the Red Cross.

Alexandra's next project, a book drive, that was held a few weeks before Thanksgiving, was her mother's idea, she says.

"My mom had this great idea to collect books," explains Alexandra, "so we put little signs up."

"One afternoon we went and left notes on doors in the neighborhood to let people know that we were going to do a book drive."

Maria adds, "and to let them know what day we'd go by to collect the books."

The following Saturday, Alexandra, along with friends Nick and Jordan Taylor, set out to collect the books from Stevenson subdivision residents.

Armed with "thank you" notes, and tugging her younger brother, Sean's little red wagon, Alexandra and her friends collected over 300 books.

"The response was phenomenal," says Maria, "people donated entire volumes of books. People were very generous."

After collecting the books, Alexandra's group donated them to area establishments such as the Alvin Senior Center, Memorial Gardens Assisted Living Center, First Christian Church and Brazoria Head Start.

"To understand that to be able to give to somebody who doesn't

have a lot, and to make someone else's life better is more important than receiving, especially during this time of the year, is just one of the many valuable lessons Maria says she hopes Alexandra and her friends learned this season.

"Girl Scout Law says that we should be a sister to every Girl Scout and whoever needs help, to help them," chimes in Alexandra.

She is already demonstrating such qualities.

Alexandra's family is planning to make the book drive a tradition.

They also have plans-in-the-making for a food drive, to benefit the Alvin Food Pantry, says Maria.

Alexandra, who's an old pro now, in anticipation of next year's efforts confidently states, "I'll know what to do."