Visual Arts Teacher Bill Thompson turned a longtime desire to serve the Navajo (Diné) community into action this summer. With the support of the Ursuline community and members of his church, he collected more than 1,300 books for Chinle Planting Hope. Here, Mr. Thompson shares how the Navajo Book Drive came together and the impact of seeing the impact of that generosity firsthand.

A huge thank you to all who donated to the Navajo Book Drive. We filled 21 boxes, just over 1,300 books. The last five boxes were delivered personally on June 12, in Chinle, AZ. The team at Chinle Planting Hope, were so grateful. If you need background, as I have spent time in northern Arizona for its amazing landscapes, what stands in stark contrast is the plight of the Navajo (Diné). I found Chinle Planting Hope, a non-profit in Chinle, AZ.  Their website Chinle Planting Hope reveals a variety of services fulfilling needs in the community.  I asked them what their current, primary need was.  Their response was "books, primarily children's books" for their library and bookmobile.

As a teacher, I have a circle of influence.  And at my church, the Church of the Redeemer in Irving, I also have a circle of influence.  Each of these communities have people looking to serve. At Ursuline, with the help of Ursuline Campus Ministry, we motivated the Bookish Bears Club and the Giftback Club for a book drive. Also contributing were various word-of-mouth contacts such as administrators, teachers, the librarians, and students.  At my church, I simply announced in the newsletter and during services and the congregation generously responded.

The Navajo Book Drive spanned the last three weeks of school in May.  With generous support from our Student Activities Director Danny Poellot, we mailed 11 boxes of books to Arizona. I mailed five more boxes a week later and tied another five boxes to the roof of my car, for a total of 21 boxes. About half the books were from Ursuline and half from my church.  On June 12, we hand-delivered the last of the books in Chinle, AZ.  While there, I met some of their outstanding team: Janice Dunn, President and Executive Director; Amber Drinen, Program Coordinator; Iesha Tsosie, Bookmobile Manager; among others. Each of them was so grateful for the donation and made me promise to pass it on, back to the donors. Seeing the activity during our visit, it was clear to me that Chinle Planting Hope was making a substantial difference in the community. It had been eight years since I had been to Chinle and I was surprised to see the changes.

It was a huge lift for me to work with the generosity of so many people on this drive.  We put many books in the young hands of a great community that needed them. Thank you.