The Rotary Club of Jacksonville’s Belize book drive collected two shipping containers full of books destined for Belize. The books will be shipped to school children in the Central American country this summer.
Rotary President Carl Cannon (left) accepted a donation of 600 books from Jay Fant, chairman and CEO of First Guaranty Bank.
“The children will be excited to receive these books,” said Cannon, former publisher of The Florida Times-Union. “We understand that educational materials in Belize schools are primitive and we are pleased to be able to fill this important need. Local civic activist Danny Berrenberg originated the idea of providing books as a result of his daughter teaching school there. The need is there and the Rotary is helping fill that need.”
Duval County public schools, private schools, churches, businesses and Rotary members spent two months collecting new and gently used books.