Student Inspires Maranatha Book Drive

One of Maranatha’s four core values is “service”. This year, Jorge Castello, one of our seniors is putting feet on his faith and inspiring our community to get behind a worthy project. Jorge has organized a book drive to help the Hollenbeck Youth Center start a library and promote education and learning in a poor community.

The Hollenbeck Youth Center is an organization located in Boyle Heights, one of the poorest neighborhoods in East Los Angeles. The Hollenbeck Youth Center’s primary focus is to deter teens from gangs and violence, and instead foster a safe, positive environment that encourages education and opportunity.

Because of his father’s involvement with the center, Jorge has been volunteering there since he was young. He has helped with projects in the past, but has volunteered to spearhead this one – the creation of a library for the center. Jorge is looking for donations of books for toddler through high school age, including dictionaries and other research materials. He is also hoping to secure donations of bookshelves and furniture for the library that they hope to unveil this fall.

“In a neighborhood where education, hope, and opportunity are lacking, we can have a major impact on the lives of these children by providing them with books that they can use to read and enjoy. We have a great opportunity to help a community that is in need and to further education; the choice is ours to help them,” said Jorge.

The drive was announced in mentor groups last week. Each student was encouraged to donate at least 1 or 2 (or more) of their favorite books from their childhood. Books can be new or used and may be dropped off in the Book Bin at the Student Center front desk. The book drive will run through most of October, which is “National Book Month,” and end on October 17, during our second mentor group meeting.

If you or the students have any further questions, please contact Jorge Castello. You can email him at cardking96@gmail.com, call/text him at (323) 775-7523, or simply talk to him at school or when you see him on the football field. If you have books in bulk, Jorge is happy to pick books up from your home or office.

Maranatha High School, 169 South Saint John Avenue, Pasadena, (626) 817-4000 or visit www.maranatha-hs.org.