Holiday Guide: Book Angels Program is Underway in Stillwater

Valley Bookseller is currently collecting books for the ‘Book Angel’ program that provides new books to children and teenagers who participate in the FamilyMeans’ youth programs in the Landfall and Cimarron communities.

For the ninth year, Valley Bookseller will display the ‘Book Angel’ tree so customers can select an angel adorned with a child’s name, age, gender, reading level and interests.

Once a book is purchased, Valley Bookseller will hold the book for FamilyMeans staff members who will wrap and distribute the books to the appropriate children prior to the holiday.

Books for the ‘Book Angel’ program can be purchased through noon on Wednesday, Dec. 19.

“The Book Angels program is a great way to promote reading at an early age,” said Jaime Staska, children’s program coordinator at Cimarron. “We’re so grateful to everyone who participates in this program each year to make this opportunity possible for the kids. It’s wonderful to watch their faces light up when they receive a new book of their own.”

FamilyMeans began the Youth Development Initiative at Landfall in 1993 and at Cimarron in 2008.

The youth programs provide structured, safe, supervised locations each weekday where children and teenagers from the two communities participate in a range of activities including academic enrichment, community service and leadership development as well as sports, recreation and arts experiences.