When is a used book sale more than a used book sale?

When it also serves to teach kids about the importance of philanthropy and putting others before themselves.  That's what will happen over the next two days at the annual "Me To We" Used Book Sale taking place at Nose Creek Elementary School.

Robert MacLellan is the school's Child Development Advisor who oversees the school's charitable endeavors among his many duties.  MacLellan said the students came up with the idea for Me To We at the school. 

"At the time it was Free The Children, it's now called We Charity.  Me To We is just young people forgetting about "me" and thinking more about "we" and how "we" can make a difference in our community and the world we all share.  We also help our local food bank, we've helped many organizations, the Children's Hospital, I can go on and on."

The used book sale will be held in the school's learning commons on Thursday and Friday.  Money raised through the book sale will be split evenly between We Charity and the Airdrie Public Library.  There is also a craft section within the book sale with money going to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.

MacLellan said they receive copious amounts of books because parents put them aside for the annual event for most of the school year.  

"We've been collecting books through the course of the school year.  Parents know, 'oh yeah, we'll put those books aside and drop them off at the school.'  It's a great way to recycle books your kids have already read and we sell them for anywhere between 25 cents and a dollar."

The Me To We effort has been going on internationally for several years.  

"We've done work in Kenya for a number of years building wells for clean water projects.  We actually built a schoolhouse in Mwangaza, Kenya a number of years ago.  This year we're raising money for materials for schools in Kenya.  We've helped other countries.  When there's a disaster we always pitch in.  It's not always in Africa, it's where the need is."

The school has also helped out many local charities, according to MacLellan.  

"Locally it's our food bank, it could be Tales To Tell, it could be Jacket Racket, the Children's Hospital.  Lots of areas that we kind of pick and choose and pitch in and help."

MacLellan said there is no end to children's generosity.  

"They come with so many different ideas.  They'd like to help the whole world.  That's the way children are.  Any little gesture does make a difference.  That's our motto, 'We make a difference here at Nose Creek.'  It's innate in children.  Children want to help in general and I think we've raised a lot of kids here that have moved on and become leaders in our community."

 

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