Teachers Union gives out nearly 30,000 books... FREE

RIO RANCHO — There were a lot of smiling faces at Ernest Stapleton Elementary School this weekend as the Rio Rancho School Employees Union (RRSEU) and the United Health Professionals of New Mexico (UHPNM) hosted the Reading Opens the World Event.

The event, part of a national effort by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) to give out 10 million books across the country, was held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and they handed out nearly all of the 30,000 books they had on hand.

Both RRESEU and the UHP are affiliates of AFT. AFT purchases and distributes books nationwide through the First Book organization.

And two more things: All of the books were brand new and free.

“We believe that health literacy is also reading literacy,” said Adrienne Enghouse, UHP of New Mexico’s representative and registered nurse. “We really see the two as intertwined. And we promote literacy through our unions. It’s one of the reasons we belong to AFT.”

Though the book drive was the main attraction at the event, it was by no means the only thing going on.

Rio Rancho Fire and Rescue, the Rio Rancho Police Department, the Tales of Joy READ program, the local dental association and several other health-related organizations joined in the fun.

RRPD had a display table set up in the main gymnasium, next to the book drive event. RRFR set up a large inflatable display outside. And everyone got plenty of books for their own kiddos.

In the Ernest Stapleton music room, the Tales of Joy READ dogs set up shop with their human friends. Established in 2006, Tales of Joy is a volunteer organization that uses therapy dogs to help introduce kids to reading.

“This is another wonderful event,” said Theresa McKinney, founder of Tales of Joy READ.

All of the dogs are certified through the Alliance of Therapy Dogs, and they love to snuggle the children as they read.

Sweet Pea and Comet were all too happy to volunteer for the event.

Back in the main gymnasium, a dozen tarps were laid out, each stacked with hundreds of brand-new books and surrounded by dozens of happy children. The various tarps and stacks were divided based on grade/reading level from pre-K all the way through 12th grade.

At one end of the gym was an information booth and plenty of arts and crafts opportunities, including a chance for one Rio Rancho Observer reporter to make a Taylor Swift-themed bracelet.

And outside the school, families staggered across the parking lot, arms overflowing with knowledge and excitement. Every now and then, a small gust of wind would ruffle the pages or tip over a stack being carried by a happy, but overwhelmed, parent.

That’s exactly how Billie Helean, president of RRSEU, and Enghouse wanted it when they began planning this once-in-a-lifetime event in November.

“[I heard] about this event in other places. We really wanted to give it a shot here,” said Helean. “The peak stress came when we knew we had to get a pallet jack and forklift to get the books off the truck.”

The 248-person volunteer team spent all of Saturday setting up the event. It wasn’t an easy task, said Helean, but it was all worth it.

“It’s been a fantastic collaboration,” she said. “We had a line out the door when we opened this morning.”

What began with a gymnasium stuffed with books ended with one small folding table carrying a smattering of remaining novels. That means nearly 30,000 new books entered the Rio Rancho community.

“Literacy is a community problem, and it’s important we find those solutions as a community,” said Enghouse.