Students pick out a book for themselves at the fifth annual event. HSS helped the children purchase a book for themselves. The group volunteers in one-on-one reading sessions, too.

The Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (HSS), Peoria, Ill., chapter, recently organized its 5th Annual Book Fair at Trewyn School. The event combined the spirit of service, community collaboration, and a deep commitment to fostering a love of reading among children in one of the most underserved neighborhoods in Peoria.

Thanks to $3,000 raised through the generosity of the Hindu community and its interfaith friends, HSS volunteers purchased 900 brand-new, popular-title books for the fair. These books, carefully selected to appeal to young readers, were offered to the school’s 375 students from kindergarten through 8th grade at deeply discounted prices ranging from just 25 cents to $5.

The response was overwhelmingly enthusiastic. Over the course of the three-day fair, children purchased 553 books, raising $410 in sales. Those funds were also donated to the school, enabling Trewyn to purchase an additional 300 books for its library and classrooms.

A particularly heartwarming part of the fair was the recognition given to 73 Kindergarten and first-grade students, who have been receiving weekly, one-on-one reading sessions with HSS volunteers throughout the school year. This initiative has been ongoing for 14 years. To celebrate the dedication of this year’s batch, each of these young readers received a $1 gift certificate to use toward the purchase of a book at the fair. For many, it was their first experience of making a book purchase of their own choice.

The goal of the book fair was far beyond simply distributing books. In contrast to many organizations that distribute pre-selected, free books, the organizers of HSS book fair wanted the children to feel the empowering excitement of browsing a bookstore filled with fresh, colorful titles and to experience the pride of owning a book of their own choice. The event also helped students understand what valuable items books are — purchased, enjoyed and treasured for years to come.

A pair of lads check out their new books during the Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh Book Fair at Trewyn.

The smiles, laughter, and excitement on the children’s faces as they showed their friends their purchases were the greatest reward for the volunteers who made this initiative successful. Eleven dedicated volunteers, including the youngest at just 12 years old, devoted countless hours to bringing the fair to life. Their work included selecting and purchasing books, pricing and labeling them, transporting 900 books to the school, setting up the fair, helping students make choices, and managing the checkout counters. Their selfless energy and enthusiasm created an atmosphere of celebration around reading.

The annual book fair reflects the spirit of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam,” the Hindu principle that the world is one family. By encouraging literacy and making books accessible to all children, the event continues to sow the seeds of lifelong learning in young hearts and also strengthens the bonds of community and service. This program is easily reproducible in many underserved schools of our communities.

For questions about the book fair or HSS, please contact: Pattekar@hotmail.com