Neighborhood book exchanges are popping up all across the
country. One of the latest is at the Pine
Ridge Prep pre-school in east Topeka, the idea of Sheyvette Dinkens, founder of
Women’s Empowerment Inc. She wanted to
make books easily available to residents in the Pine Ridge area. A mother volunteered to paint the small
wooden box that houses the books, the Topeka Housing Authority installed it in
the front yard of Pine Ridge prep.
Anyone can take a book, read it and return it or they can return a
different book. It has been a popular
addition to the neighborhood. “We have
been really surprised at all the community support,” said Pine Ridge Site
Coordinator Shanna Russell. “Parents
have been using it like crazy. Middle
school and high school students use it when they get off the bus. We have had a lot of people donate
books. It’s turning out really well.”
