'They have a community here': Project gathers books for children in their languages
Baby books, comic books and science fiction. All great ideas for holiday gifts, and all of these particular books in Spanish.
A variety of Spanish-language books suitable for readers from toddlers to young adults are currently displayed at three Kitsap County bookstores, as a partnership with the Bremerton-based Kitsap Immigrant Assistance Center to help hundreds of Spanish-speaking immigrant families give books in their languages as Christmas gifts in December.
Ballast Book Co. in downtown Bremerton, Liberty Bay Books in Poulsbo and Eagle Harbor Book Co. on Bainbridge Island are taking part in this unique project, one of many in Kitsap County that helps residents make donations to low-income families around the holidays. Those who want to donate books to KIAC's families are encouraged to come to the stores to purchase them. Books will be put in a drop box in the stores, delivered to the center, and eventually go to the families KIAC serves in Kitsap, Jefferson, Clallam, Mason, and Pierce counties.
"Customers can come into the store and pick a book from our selection or they can go online and donate cash to the project. Or they can call us to donate," Suzanne Selfors and Walker Ranson of Liberty Bay Books said in an email. The bookstore in Poulsbo has sold 50 Spanish books as of mid-November and will run the campaign through the rest of the month.
Eagle Harbor Book Co. usually collects between 300 and 400 books in this campaign, said Jane Danielson, co-owner of Eagle Harbor Book Co.
"The first year was maybe 350. Last year was a little over 400 and we're on track for doing that again," Danielson said.
Eagle Harbor and Ballast Books have collaborated with KIAC for three years on the agency's program to gift a book in Spanish to each child during the holiday season, and the partnership with Liberty Bay Books began in 2022.
Besides the books people, Ballast Bookstore will donate 20% of the books' value to the nonprofit as well, Ballast Bookstore owner Kate Larson said.
Build community, and the love of reading
Some titles available at the bookstore are a Spanish version of award-winning books, such as Newbery Award winner "La Última Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera. Jerry Pallotta's "Who Would Win" series in Spanish are popular, and there are other children's books that have been translated, like the "Llama Llama" series by Anna Dewdney and "The Berenstain Bears," Danielson of Eagle Harbor Book Co. said.
"So, a little bit of everything for every age," Danielson said.
"We simply bring in a variety, from picture books to chapter books to novels for young readers," Selfors and Ranson said.
For the bookstore, participating in the campaign is an action to support the community and its new neighbors, Larson of Ballast Book Co. said.
"It's our new neighbors that we are welcoming to the area by giving them books because when you're in a place where your primary language is not your native language, it's comforting to get a book in your native language," Larson said. "It's nothing like having a book in your preferred language."
As a community bookstore, Eagle Harbor believes in building community and KIAC's children are part of the community and need to be able to read, too, Danielson said.
"Especially when they're first coming to the states and they don't quite know the language yet. They deserve to have something nice as well that they can understand and keep the love of reading going in our newest community members," Danielson said.
The last day to deliver the donations directly to KIAC is December 4, as the gifts will be given out to the families in a holiday celebration event held by KIAC at the East Bremerton Community Gym on December 9. Kids will pick up books that fit their ages from all the donated books at the event. The families will also get goody bags filled with hygiene supplies, gift cards and holiday treats. They will be able to take photos with Santa and enjoy activities like face painting or doing holiday crafts along with food and drinks like Pozole and Ponche, according to KIAC.
The nonprofit serves immigrant families mostly from Central and South America. Often, stories of immigrants are those of struggle and sadness, and a holiday celebration will bring people together and send a message to them that they are welcome here, KIAC's Interim Executive Director Kimberly Cizek Allen said.
"People have made really heartbreaking decisions to come to the United States and to come to this area. And their journeys have often been really challenging and difficult," Allen said. "It (holiday celebration) lets them know that they have a community here...it's a way that we can support community joy and fun in the communities that we serve."
More on how to support KIAC's holiday celebration can be found at https://kitsapiac.org/support-kiacs-holiday-celebration-for-immigrant-families/.
Ways to help kids around Kitsap this season
As the holiday season begins, many organizations are seeking donations to help those in need. Here are some other ways to support the community in coming weeks.
Toys for Tots Kitsap: People can donate toys at Toys for Tots' local toy drop sites in Kitsap or donate online, in the annual program through the Marine Corps Reserve. Toys will be distributed to families registered to the program on December 16 at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds. In 2022, over 2,700 children in Kitsap County were supported via the nonprofit. More info is available on its website.
Santa's Castle: Serving active military in Washington State, JBLM-based Santa's Castle provides Christmas gifts to military families who have financial hardship. The Military Officers Association of America (MOAA)'s Kitsap Chapter helps collect donations for the nonprofit. Those who want to drop off toys can do so at the Silverdale Office of First Command at 10049 Kitsap Mall Blvd NW, Suite 289 by November 30, according to Kitsap MOAA President Dana Clay. Toys will be distributed at Naval Base Kitsap on December 12 and 13.
Kitsap Community Resources: Kitsap Community Resources' Christmas Angel program serves low-income children in the county. Donations are being accepted at 1201 Park Ave, Bremerton until December 16. Items like clothing, books, education kits and toys are needed. More info can be found at https://www.kcr.org/christmas-angel/.
The Coffee Oasis: The Coffee Oasis's Family Christmas Project serves homeless and at-risk youth. People can sponsor youth who participate in Coffee Oasis's youth programs so that they will receive gifts at the Christmas parties held by the organization. Check https://thecoffeeoasis.com/christmas/ for more information.
YWCA of Kitsap County: YWCA's Adopt-A-Family program will help the organization give their clients, who are families that experience domestic violence and trauma, a "wonderful" Christmas. Those interested in learning more can contact JBrown@ywcakitsap.org or 360-479-0522.
This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Kitsap Immigrant Center and bookstores providing gifts in Spanish
