Book drive for foster children ends March 1

In the fourth week of the 2008 Book Drive, more than 5,500 books have been collected to date for this important book drive, with drop off locations continuing to accept books as follows:

Mike Rodgerson's Fifth Grade Class at Gulf Breeze Elementary School; Episcopal Day School; Pensacola Beach Community Church, Pensacola Beach; Pensacola Beach Visitor's Information Center; Pandora de Balthazar, Luxury European Bedding Warehouse, 698 E. Heinberg St., Suite 103, Pensacola.

The formal drive will end March 1, to allow the books to be prepared for selection by the Visitation Centers Supervisors in April.

The goal is 10,000 books and 10 bookcases, one for each child served by Families First Network of Lakeview, Inc., and to stock the six Visitation Centers Reading Rooms.

Attributed to young Eric Finger, son of Brian and Susan Finger, Volunteers for the Make a Difference Team's Foster Children Program, this Book Drive is dedicated to Kids Helping Kids, raising awareness of the needs of the children of our community and how each of us can help make a difference.

Pandora de Balthazar, Luxury European Bedding Warehouse will continue to receive books throughout April and May.

For more information, please contact Book Drive Event Coordinator, Pandora de Balthazar at 850 450 4634 or 850 432 4777, or email: info@pandoradebalthazar.com or pandora@pandoradebalthazar. com.

To give cash, donors should make checks payable to: Baptist Healthcare Foundation, memo: Make a Difference Fund, and send to: P. O. Box 789, Gulf Breeze, FL32562-0789, or bring to 698 E. Heinberg St., Suite 103. Funds will be used to order new books from Scholastic Books to complete the Book Drive.

All donations of books, bookshelves and checks will be dedicated to elevating education and family stability of the children of our community who are served by Families First Network of Lakeview, Inc., and the families who care for those children.