Soroptimist International of Tahoe Sierra gives all South Shore students K-8 a book for the summer

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - For over 20 years the Soroptimist International of Tahoe Sierra (SITS) has given books to students at schools in Zephyr Cove and the Lake Tahoe Unified Schoo District (LTUSD), and 2021 is no different.

Co-chairs of the program, Cookie Rork and Laurie Brazil, ordered 2,700 books in Spanish and English to distribute to students in kindergarten through eighth grade. The books are for the children to keep and either start or add to their own personal collection.

Club members joined in bagging up the books for each classroom and then delivered the treasures to each school Monday and Tuesday.

Reading is important at all ages, even if it is the parent reading to the young child. During the pandemic and reduced hours in the classroom, taking time to read is more important now than ever. The recipients of the free books can join in the reading challenges this summer and both the Zephyr Cove and South Lake Tahoe Library, or with Lift Literature. Each has contests for logging in reading minutes.

SITS has been serving the South Shore of Lake Tahoe since it was chartered on March 4, 1977. “Soroptimist” is a coined term that means, “Best for Women.” Their mission statement is to “Strengthen and enhance the lives of women and youth in our community and the world.” With the established mission in mind, members participate in programs at the local level based on the specific needs of our community. In addition, our club is mindful of the need to enhance the lives of women and youth throughout the world.

They meet weekly on Thursday mornings at 7:30 a.m. For more information on joining, visit https://sitahoesierra.org/.