A Valley Metro bus delivered more than 2,000 books to three schools in Tempe through the agency’s Driving for Books initiative. Employees of Valley Metro and bus service provider, First Transit, donated the books to support education and local students.
“The students are just ecstatic about receiving a gift as simple as a book,” said Jermaine Bethea, the operator who delivered the bus full of books. “It’s rewarding for me to know that you can create a spark in a child that can go with them for the rest of their life and who knows what they will do with that inspiration.”
Each of Curry Elementary School’s 600 students received a book to take home for summer reading.
“Today is fantastic!” exclaimed Halema Alzahri, 3rd Grade Student at Curry Elementary. “I can’t wait to go home and read my new books with my family.”
Before getting behind the wheel of a Valley Metro bus, Bethea drove a school bus for Tempe Elementary School District. As a way to give back to students, Bethea started collecting books with the intention of donating them to kids in need. During the past four years, the Tempe resident has collected more than 4,000 books for youth in the District.
“Valley Metro’s generous donation today will make a difference in the lives of our children by providing them books to enhance their love for learning,” said Ken White, Curry Elementary principal. “There is nothing more heart-warming and fulfilling than to observe students opening their books and watching their eyes light up as they read and share their books.”
An additional 1,500 books were delivered to the libraries at Hudson Elementary and Gililland Middle School.
