LETCHER COUNTY, Ky. — Communities in eastern Kentucky recently marked one year since devastating storms flooded parts of the region and damaged Martha Jane Potter Elementary School and its library.
Eastern Kentucky University’s fall 2022 Spanish social-service learning program was a small group of 15 students who took their efforts outside the classroom to make a difference.
Now, college students are fixing up the Martha Jane Potter Elementary’s library with some support from EKU libraries.
Students who have home ties in Letcher County are hoping to help their peers and loved ones.
“I can identify the materials, I can help with the needs that are gonna be in the library, but in terms of the boots on the ground, that was all them,” EKU Librarian Cindy Judd said.
The plan was set in motion almost a year ago and included direction from each student in the class who fundraised to earn $1,000 from a bake sale that the students also included as a part of Latin heritage month.
The project has soared under Dr. Socorro Zaragozas and is backed by leaders like Abbey Poffennberger, board chair of language, cultural studies, anthropology and sociology. She said the students’ generosity was unmatched and made a difference right away.
“They certainly did not expect to raise $1,000, so when they saw that impact and all students from the area coming and giving money as well, there were a lot of tears,” Poffennberger said.
Brand-new kid’s books have transformed the library since July with literature that shares some teachings and cultural diversity the college students study themselves.
“It’s gonna be really important for them to have access to diverse literature, literature that’s gonna expose them to other cultures and other beliefs,” Judd said.
“[It’s important to] highlight Latino contributions to life in the U.S. and across Latin America. It was very important to them to share their culture with the students of Letcher County,” Poffennberger added.
Judd also says this opportunity provides elementary schoolers a chance to thrive both academically and into well-rounded people who might, of course, one day enjoy reading.
“Bringing quality literature, literature that they read for fun, not just ‘I’m reading this book because it’s strictly for learning,’ but reading for pleasure also builds those key literacy skills and those social-emotional skills and helps them be more rounded,” she explained. “It’s a newer, richer collection for the first time. They’re gonna have access to lots of gorgeous, new graphic novels which kids love.”
Many of the books have already found their forever homes at Martha Jane Potter Elementary.