Books for Tots

Andy Nettel, owner of Back of Beyond Books, shelves books available for the Books for Tots program. Customers can purchase books to be used at six local schools. [Wade Kemmsies / Moab Sun News]

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Back of Beyond Bookstore is inviting the public to provide Books for Tots.

Andy Nettel said that the bookstore now has books on shelves that were listed on books lists from six schools.

“The community in turn purchases these books, which are sorted and presented to the schools in January,” Nettel said.“I’m guessing we get about 600 additional books into the schools each year.”

Desert West Office Supply is a co-sponsor of the program. The company collects ink cartridges, and then matches the money they receive by selling to the cartridges to fund the Books for Tots program.

“Footprints and Chip’s Grand Tire Auto have also made generous donations,” Nettel said.

The program began with Footprints. The company would give each graduating kindergartner a book bag upon graduation.

“Arches Book Company tweaked it a little bit and expanded the program to the Title One program at Red Rock Elementary,” Nettel said. “As the program grew, we began to add classes, then added schools.”

Today the program supports six local schools and programs: Sundwall Preschool, Helen M. Knight Elementary, Grand County Middle School, Grand County High School, Moab Charter School and the BEACON Afterschool Program.

“Books will be available until we run out, but we have over 300 to choose from,” Nettel said.

Books donated to schools

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