Books can be good medicine Books can be good medicine (July 09, 2004)

Mother leads local drive for hospital reading
by Dolores Fox Ciardelli

When sick children go to Children's Hospital Oakland, one thing cheers them up - there are carts of books around that are free for the taking, provided by volunteers.

"When we started the program, I thought they might take one, but they take them home by the armload," said Susan Martinez, Director of Patient Advocacy, who heads up the volunteers. "We're giving away about 500 books a day." Visitors as well as the sick children may help themselves, all to promote the joy of books and literacy.

When Faran, a Pleasanton resident for 13 years, heard the hospital was putting so many books to good use, she thought this would be a good activity for her and her sons, Rusteen Honardoost, 12, and Ashkon, 9.

She wanted to teach them to help others, she said, with a project where they could be of assistance.

"She talked about it a lot," said Rusteen, who is a student at Hart Middle School.

"We had books we'd bought but didn't want," recalled Ashkon, who goes to Lydiksen Elementary, so those were the first donations.

Faran said they have handed out about 1,500 fliers, at coffee shops, offices, schools and meetings, plus radio station KKIQ announces the project periodically. They have collected 700 books so far but are hoping the word will get out and yield thousands of books for them to load into boxes and deliver to Children's Hospital.

The hospital receives many of the books - and the carts - from Half Price Books, which has stores in Berkeley, Concord and Fremont, said Martinez, and also supports Half-Pint Libraries in other locations.

"They do an annual drive and just delivered the first part of a 6,000-piece donation," said Martinez. "We get new and gently used children's books in all languages, picture books, story books, for toddlers through teenagers, premature babies through adults."

They also receive books from individuals, schools and community groups, and 15,000 books were donated last year. Volunteers place the books throughout the hospital, including the clinics. "Our biggest concentration is through the emergency room," said Martinez. "We have 50,000 patients a year in the emergency room."

She said that all ages seem to like the books, and noted that some young adults are also treated there. "It's wonderful. They love to read and are very hungry for books," she said. "They like to go through and see what titles are there."

There is a great need for books in Spanish, and they also accept in-kind donations. "We can give away as many as we can take in," Martinez said.

Faran is hoping to add to that number. She has been involved with other fundraisers, she said. As a Realtor, she worked to support the American troops in Iraq. As a member of the Persian community, she helped to raise $196,000 for the victims of the earthquakes that devastated parts of Iran in December.

"I'm hoping to get more kids involved, too," she said of the book project.

Faran said she will be happy to pick up books at any location, or they can be dropped at her office, Keller Williams Tri-Valley Realty, Suite 100, 5990 Stoneridge, at Hopyard. Call 922-0822, or contact Faran through www.experiencetheexcellence.com.

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