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A FORMER NORTH HIGHLAND SCHOOL TEACHER IS MAKING SURE, EVEN IN HER RETIREMENT, THAT SACRAMENTO STUDENTS HAVE ACCESS TO BOOKS. KCRA 3’S LEE ANNE DENYER TAKES US ABOARD THE SUNSHINE FAMILY BOOKMOBILE. NICE. GOOD CHOICES. RETIRED SCHOOL TEACHER BOBBY DONOVAN KNOWS THE POWER OF A GOOD BOOK. IT’S A MOBILE LIBRARY, SO WE WANT TO GET AS MANY BOOKS INTO THE HANDS OF KIDS AS POSSIBLE. AND IN THIS COMMUNITY, THE CLOSEST LIBRARY IS ALMOST FOUR MILES AWAY. SO FOR PARENTS, IT’S NOT CONVENIENT TO GET TO THE LIBRARY. SHE’S THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE SUNSHINE FAMILY BOOKMOBILE. IT’S A RESOURCE THAT’S REALLY NEEDED IN THIS COMMUNITY. RAY JENKINS CHECKS OUT NEW BOOKS EACH WEEK. I LOVE READING. AS THE BOOKMOBILE MAKES ITS WEEKLY STOP AT CARL ROSARIO PARK IN NORTH HIGHLANDS. I LOVE THE PICTURES, I LOVE, I LOVE BOOKS BECAUSE IT’S A WORLD OF IMAGINATION. A LOT OF THE BOOKS THAT WE GET, THE CHARACTERS CONTINUE. SO IT’S A SERIES, SO THEY’RE ALWAYS EAGER TO SEE HOW IT’S GOING TO PLAY OUT. IT’S JUST BEEN A GREAT PROGRAM. HOW ARE YOU? DONOVAN CO-FOUNDED THE SUNSHINE FAMILY OUTREACH CENTER WITH HER SISTER, BOTH KNOWING THE DIFFERENCE A BOOKMOBILE COULD MAKE FOR FAMILIES IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD. IT’S A COMMUNITY HERE. EVERYBODY HERE, WE KNOW EACH OTHER. WE TALK TO EACH OTHER. I LOVE READING MYSELF, BUT IT’S JUST NICE TO SHARE THE SAME PASSION WITH MY DAUGHTERS. THE PROGRAM IS ENTIRELY VOLUNTEER RUN. THE BUS AND THE BOOKS DONATED. THIS RESOURCE IS REALLY HELPED. PARENTS NOT JUST GET THE BOOKS INTO THEIR HANDS, BUT FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO GET RESOURCES FROM US. MOST OF US ARE RETIRED TEACHERS, RETIRED LIBRARIANS. WE KNOW WHAT’S OUT THERE. WE KNOW WHAT WORKS FOR KIDS. AS SHE ENJOYS HER OWN CHAPTER OF RETIREMENT. OH, THERE YOU GO. DONOVAN SAYS THIS FEELS LIKE A TRUE SUCCESS STORY. I FEEL LIKE WHAT I’M DOING IS HAVING AN IMPACT ON THIS COMMUNITY, AND THEY’RE SO APPRECIATIVE. AND, YOU KNOW, WE’VE ALL WORKED TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THE KIDS ARE DOING WELL IN SCHOOL. IN NORTH HIGHLANDS, LEE ANNE DENYER KCRA THREE NEWS. ALL RIGHT. NOW THE SUNSHINE FAMILY BOOKMOBILE ONLY SERVES FAMILIES IN NORTH HIGHLANDS. TH
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Retired teacher brings books to kids through mobile library
Bobbi Donovan, a retired schoolteacher, co-founded the Sunshine Family Bookmobile to provide easy access to books for children in North Highlands, Sacramento.
Bobbi Donovan, a retired schoolteacher from California, is ensuring that local students have access to books through the Sunshine Family Bookmobile.”It’s a mobile library. We want to get as many books into the hands of kids as possible,” she said. “In this community, the closest library is almost four miles away, so for parents, it’s not convenient to get to the library.”The bookmobile makes weekly stops in one Sacramento neighborhood, where children like 8-year-old Trey Jenkins regularly check out new books. “I love reading,” he said. “I like reading the books. I love the pictures; I love books because there’s a world of imagination.” It was his grandmother, Meschelle White, who discovered the bookmobile. She said that in the years she’s brought her grandsons to the mobile library, she’s seen their reading scores improve and their love of reading grow. “A lot of the books that we get, the characters continue, so it’s a series. They’re always eager to see how it’s going to play out,” White said. “It’s just been a great program.”Donovan co-founded the Sunshine Family Outreach Center with her sister, recognizing the impact a bookmobile could have on families in the neighborhood and the need for more reading resources. “It’s a community here. Everybody here, we know each other. We talk to each other,” said Bri Bradford, a parent. “I love reading myself, but it’s just nice to share the same passion with my daughters.”The program is entirely volunteer-run, and the bus and books were donated. “This resource has really helped parents, not just get the books into their hands, but for them to be able to get resources from us. Most of us are retired teachers, retired librarians. We know what’s out there. We know what works for kids.” Donovan said.As Donovan enjoys her retirement, she said she continues to feel fulfilled by the impact of the bookmobile. “I feel like what I’m doing is having an impact on this community, and they’re so appreciative,” she said. “We’ve all worked together to make sure the kids are doing well in school.”
Bobbi Donovan, a retired schoolteacher from California, is ensuring that local students have access to books through the Sunshine Family Bookmobile.
“It’s a mobile library. We want to get as many books into the hands of kids as possible,” she said. “In this community, the closest library is almost four miles away, so for parents, it’s not convenient to get to the library.”
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The bookmobile makes weekly stops in one Sacramento neighborhood, where children like 8-year-old Trey Jenkins regularly check out new books.
“I love reading,” he said. “I like reading the books. I love the pictures; I love books because there’s a world of imagination.”
It was his grandmother, Meschelle White, who discovered the bookmobile. She said that in the years she’s brought her grandsons to the mobile library, she’s seen their reading scores improve and their love of reading grow.
“A lot of the books that we get, the characters continue, so it’s a series. They’re always eager to see how it’s going to play out,” White said. “It’s just been a great program.”
Donovan co-founded the Sunshine Family Outreach Center with her sister, recognizing the impact a bookmobile could have on families in the neighborhood and the need for more reading resources.
“It’s a community here. Everybody here, we know each other. We talk to each other,” said Bri Bradford, a parent. “I love reading myself, but it’s just nice to share the same passion with my daughters.”
The program is entirely volunteer-run, and the bus and books were donated.
“This resource has really helped parents, not just get the books into their hands, but for them to be able to get resources from us. Most of us are retired teachers, retired librarians. We know what’s out there. We know what works for kids.” Donovan said.
As Donovan enjoys her retirement, she said she continues to feel fulfilled by the impact of the bookmobile.
“I feel like what I’m doing is having an impact on this community, and they’re so appreciative,” she said. “We’ve all worked together to make sure the kids are doing well in school.”
