YORKTOWN— A community fundraiser organized by local children’s book author Catherine Clark Felts has led to the donation of 40 children’s books on kindness and antibullying to two elementary schools in the area.
Ella’s Way is a nonprofit dedicated to promoting kindness and encouraging the acceptance of differences as young children form their first friendships. The organization donates children’s picture books designed to spark age-appropriate conversations about kindness, empathy and diversity. The books are created by a group of approximately 35 collaborative authors — including Felts — who share a commitment to fostering compassion in young readers.
On Dec. 1, Felts partnered with Texas Roadhouse in Yorktown to host a Dine to Donate event supporting the nonprofit. While Felts felt that patrons dining might not have known about the fundraiser, many came to the table she had set up to learn about Ella’s Way and donated that way.
The organization was able to raise enough funds to get a package of 20 books delivered to Deer Park Elementary School in Newport News. On Friday, Feb. 20, a second donation package of 20 books was delivered to Grafton Bethel Elementary School. A total of 40 books are being donated as a result of the fundraiser.
In January, Felts was invited to the school in Newport News to read one of her books to several first-grade classes. The visit included a reading session and discussions with students on affirmations, with photos taken by a Newport News Public Schools photographer.
“I went to all of the first-grade classes, and all of the kindergarten classes, and read my book, and introduced them to affirmations, and it was a really wonderful experience for the kids, for the teachers, for the community,” said Felts about the experience. She hopes to partner with Grafton Bethel Elementary School to offer a similar experience for the kids there.
Felts is currently working on details to partner with Uno Pizzaria & Grill to organize another fundraising event, possibly; no details have been finalized at this time.
For more information about Ella’s Way, visit the official website.
