Bookstore Helps Active Duty Parents Tuck Tots In

Military personnel on active duty overseas are a little closer to their young children at bedtime through the efforts of Quail Ridge Books & Music in Raleigh, North Carolina. In association with the United Through Reading/Military Program, the bookstore organized an event for Memorial Day that encouraged customers to purchase children's books for donation to the USO program, which strives to help military families stay connected. The USO provides the children's books to service members who select a title to read aloud while they are recorded on DVD. The DVD and the book are then sent to children at home.

Catherine Billingsley (left) with Diana Carroll, a staff member in the Quail Ridge children's department.

Quail Ridge Events Coordinator Rene Martin organized the event after she was contacted by Catherine Billingsley, whose son-in-law is serving in Iraq. Billingsley's grandson had participated in the program, "and she saw directly the positive effect the experience had on her family," Martin said. "She brought a tape of her grandson watching his father on the DVD, and we played it during the event."

Martin, who contacted BTW in the hope that other independent bookstores would be inspired to participate in the program, said the Quail Ridge event was surprisingly simple to organize and very successful. "I sent out a notice to everyone on our e-mail lists, and I contacted the newspaper," she explained. "We put up a display -- and gave customers a 20 percent discount on any book donated. Our wonderful children's booksellers were on hand to make suggestions."

Martin noted with pride, "We collected over 300 books and more than $700, which we used to buy more books and to pay for shipping the books overseas." Billingsley handled the packing and shipping of the books.

The event was so successful that Quail Ridge extended the event past Memorial Day "because so many people wanted to participate," said Martin. "The local paper ran several articles, and I'm sure we brought in many new customers."

Martin, whose own son has completed three tours in Iraq, said the United Through Reading program is "ideal, with no downside. No matter where you stand on the war -- everyone wants a way to support the troops and this helps families stay connected -- with books." --Nomi Schwartz