There are six fire stations serving the 51 square miles called Carmel. Each of us sleeps well at night knowing there is a station ready to respond should we call.
Most of us probably know the location of the fire station closest to our house. And inside that local Carmel firehouse, you can be sure to find the following:
● Well-trained firefighters
● Modern firefighting apparatus
● A children’s book collection box (at least until May 23rd)
The collection box is part of a plan developed by thirteen year old (14 this August) Clay Middle School student Chris Nardi. He has decided he wants to be an Eagle Scout.
Having already demonstrated the skills necessary to progress from Cub to his current status as a Life Scout, Nardi is still achieving. To become an Eagle Scout, he must plan, fund and execute a major community service project.
Young Nardi loves to read, and he’s an admitted book lover.
“I surround myself with books, reading every chance I get,” he said. “Mysteries are my favorite.”
So, when deciding how he might earn his Eagle Scout badge, Chris knew the project would include books and kids.
“I wanted to include books in my project,” Chris said. “When I considered kids who might not have access to books, I reached out to Ms. Joan Harrel at Indianapolis Public Schools.”
From Harrel, Chris learned there are kids at IPS who, for a variety of reasons including temporary housing situations, do not have the ability to obtain or permanently retain books of their own.
So Chris is collecting new or gently-used books at all Carmel Fire Stations, City Hall and select Carmel Schools.
Chuck Short of the Castleton U-Haul Store donated the wardrobe boxes now turned book collection receptacles. Lowe’s provided a grant to purchase storage boxes and some local librarians are helping boost the collection cause. Chris believes he is on his way to collecting 2,000 books which he will soon turn over to IPS.
When asked what he hopes will be the result of his work he said, “I don’t expect some magical moment and besides, I won’t be there to see it anyway. But I hope something might change in the kids to make them want to read more, and I want them to be happy.”
Now that’s a bestseller.
