'Books make the world go round'

Boxes of books flow in and out of Linda Rohlinger’s house all of November and into December. They pile high on her dining room table with titles like “The Giving Tree,” “Harold and the Purple Crayon” and “The Poky Little Puppy.”

The Books for Tots organizer is once again gearing up to gather an insane amount of books to be distributed to families in need.

Books for Tots is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year and is proud to have donated more than 50,000 books to Kootenai County kids.

Books for Tots is a program that collects new books and gives them to Toys for Tots to be given to families in the community. Each child that receives donations from Toys for Tots also receives three or four age-appropriate books from Books for Tots.

“I personally think books make the world go round; there is knowledge that can only be found in books” Rohlinger said. “I also believe the longevity of a book is powerful. Books can be passed down generation to generation, down to a younger sibling, to a friend and then again to the library for the whole community to enjoy.”

Rohlinger started Books for Tots when she became a stay-at-home mom. After a 20-year career in corporate communications, she couldn’t sit still and wanted to find a way to help the community.

She loved reading to her son, so when she found Toys for Tots, she asked if it got many books — it didn't.

That same day, she made a plan to start Books for Tots. Ten years later, it’s been super successful.

“She supplies us with all the books we use, which is about 6,000 each year,” said Ron Bell, the coordinator for Toys for Tots in Kootenai County. “I know there’s a literacy problem in the area, so hopefully this will help to alleviate some of that. It’s important for children to start reading early, not just in our community but across the nation, too.”

Books for Tots' goal this year is to collect 10,000 books. Rohlinger has already collected 500 books. She is counting on an annual fundraiser with close friends to bring in more books as well as donations from individuals and local businesses.

There will be an open house at the Well-Read Moose in Riverstone Dec. 1 from 4 to 7 p.m. Anyone buying books for Books for Tots will get discounts on those books. There will be hot drinks, storytelling and Santa will even make an appearance.

Books for Tots only accepts new books because Toys for Tots gives new toys to kids whose families can’t afford to buy new toys.

To make a donation, contact Linda Rohlinger at linda@rohlinger.net. One hundred percent of monetary donations go to buying books.