The Fayette Citizen-Weekend Page
Wednesday, December 30, 1998
Woman sees 'supply and demand' as opportunity

One day last fall, Mary Ann Martino of Peachtree City took her children to Global Surplus in northwest Fayette County. She noticed they had a large surplus of books and coloring books for young children. Martino saw this as a way to show her children how to help others: by making a connection between that surplus and the needs of the children at Egleston Children's Hospital and at the Interfaith Outreach Home (for the homeless).

Martino and her children passed out colorful flyers asking area residents to "Give a Book to a Kid." It explained that the brand-new books were $1 to $5 and where they would be going. She said people donated "a dollar or two, sometimes five, and every dollar raised was used to purchase books for children.

"Due to the warmhearted Fayette County citizens and the generous discount on the part of Global Surplus, we were able to provide Interfaith Outreach Home with 52 brand-new children's books and 19 paint-with-water or sticker type coloring books," Martino said. "Egleston Children's Hospital received 101 new children's books and 30 paint-with-water or sticker type coloring books."

The family also took advantage of the Peachtree City Library book sale to purchase used books for older children. In addition, Omega Books in Peachtree City and the Book Worm in Fayetteville each "donated generously of their secondhand books" so the preteen and teenaged children would receive books also. In total, they gathered 112 secondhand paperback books.

Martino said the post offices in Peachtree City and Fayetteville donated 100 coloring books and she was able to purchase from Target ("at a greatly discounted price") 20 writing tablets, plus 50 more they donated to children in Ecuador.

In total, 445 books were given to either I.O.H. or Egleston. "I thank the people of Fayette County for making this happen," Martino said. "Every dollar you handed me did make a difference. I thank the booksellers, the post offices, and the other businesses such as Kroger and Outback Steakhouse for supporting this effort.

"I am proud to be a citizen of Fayette County."

While she has no plans presently to repeat this feat, she said she is willing to help others with similar goals. Call Mary Ann Martino at 770-486-0039.

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