Hi! My name is Kelly Marthaler. My husband and I have 4 cute little kiddos and we live in Hastings, Mn. I am a consultant with Usborne Books & More which is an amazing children's book company with a great mission. I love doing book drives and am really excited about this one because September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month!

This year's book drive is in honor of our good friend's 7 year old son, Lucas Horton. Beginning last fall, Lucas spent many months going through treatment for brain cancer at Minneapolis Children's Hospital. Lucas has many things to keep him busy while he was at the hospital including RC trucks (which he loves), but his parents, Dustin and Sara, mentioned the free books they were given in the hospital as something that was very meaningful! They were excited about the idea of being able to give back and provide some fun for the other kids visiting the hospital.

Books allow kids to distract their minds and enrich their lives in so many ways. Books have the ability to bring us to a place or time we have never or will never visit. Books are great entertainment for times when you can't be active or need a little rest. Books are overall such an important part of a child's development! In the e-mail from the hospital representative, she stated that they are in desperate need of board books and level readers. She also mentioned bilingual books and books with multi-cultural themes and characters. Flap books, activity books and sound books were also on the hospital's wish list! By donating, you will be able to provide many books for families that are often going through the worst months of their lives.

Here is the best part: Usborne Books & More will match any and all donations at 50%!!! This is so great because if we hit our goal of raising $1,500, we will be able to provide the hospital with $2,250 of free, brand-new books!! Please help us reach our goal for this year's book drive!

If you donate:

• $30= $45 of free books
• $50= $75 of free books
• $80= $120 of free books
• $100= $150 of FREE BOOKS!!

I thank you from the bottom of my heart for helping us with this year's book drive in honor of Lucas. I know the Minneapolis Children's Hospital and all the families that receive these books thank you too. God bless!