Governor Crist, First Lady Host Book Drive For Area Children

December 22, 2008

A book drive held by Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and first lady Carole Crist collected hundreds of books for foster children across Florida, including a Cantonment children’s  home.

Governor Charlie Crist and first lady Carole Crist celebrated the Governor’s Holiday Book Drive by hosting a party and book reading at the Governor’s Mansion Sunday with foster children, families and foster agency workers. The book drive has collected more than 700 books for foster children across Florida, including the children of the Northwest Florida Baptist Children’s Home in Cantonment.

“As Christmas Day and the New Year approaches, it is important that we remember the many children throughout Florida who do not have the gift of a ‘forever’ family,” Governor Crist said. “Carole and I pray that every child has the opportunity to find a caring family to give them a permanent home filled with love and support.”

The Governor and first lady served cookies and punch to 30 local foster children, who attended along with foster families and representatives of several foster care organizations. Joining them was Department of Children and Families Secretary George Sheldon and Jim Kallinger, Chief Child Advocate. The children sat down with the Governor and first lady and read “The Twelve Days of Christmas in Florida” by Sarasota author Frank Remkiewicz, whose colorful book showcases Sunshine State treasures including flamingos, Key lime pies, alligators.

“It’s an honor to have my book chosen for a read-aloud at the Governor’s Holiday Book Drive celebration,” Remkiewicz said. “I had so much fun creating a book about Christmas in Florida. The state has so many unique features. It was difficult to only choose 12 of them.”

The children at the party received books collected during the book drive as gifts. The other collected books will be distributed across Florida to children served by six foster care organizations:

  • SOS Children’s Village in Coconut Creek
  • Florida Sheriff’s Youth Ranch in Live Oak
  • 4Kids of South Florida Inc. in Fort Lauderdale
  • Big Bend Community Based Care in Tallahassee and the Big Bend
  • Florida United Methodist Children’s Home in Enterprise
  • Northwest Florida Baptist Children’s Home in Cantonment

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News