Tag: Athens Housing Authority

Broadacres

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Broadacres Homes is located on the corner of Rocksprings and Broad (near Gresham’s Disco).

Just after pulling into Broadacres Homes around eleven thirty, a former student with a great big smile walking with a friend calls-out, “Hey Mr. Brooks!” I ask where lunches are distributed during the summer.

“Down the hill at The Rec.”

A familiar face is a good sign on the summer’s first delivery.

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Lunches are distributed inside the community center, also called “The Rec.”

A white Athens Housing Authority van pulls up to the community center, then two men unload large plastic bins and carry them inside. The containers are filled with lunches Athens residents can pick up between noon and one.

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This Athens Housing Authority van delivers lunches to sites all over town.

A handful of folks peer out of their windows and doors as the Bibliobike gets set up. Two women walking toward the community center are the first to ask what this is all about. After browsing, both choose Dr. Seuss books for grand-kids. Next, a first grader leading her lunch-coated baby brother by the hand emerges from the building and heads toward the rig. They immediately snatch two books with Elmo on the cover. Another first grader points to the large face on the cover of a Nelson Mandela biography and asks her great-aunt, “Who’s that?”

Yes, she wants the Mandela book, I think to myself.

“You’ll learn about him in time. Get something you know about,” the woman responds sternly.

The curious reader chooses Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Green Eggs and Ham.

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A new chalkboard on top of the rig reads, “Free Books.”

 

Location, Location…

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Logically, turnout last year was sporadic when the temperature hovered in the upper nineties or higher. Some days, two sweaty kids braved the heat for books. On milder afternoons, many more walked away with summer reads. So the haunting question throughout this year has been how to give away more books.

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When homeroom teachers around Clarke County were given the Summer Food Service Program flyers to send home before school let out, the issue of low turnout during Bibliobike deliveries was potentially solved. The plan is to arrive when lunches are being distributed. Before or after kids and families get their meals, they will also be able to grab some books.

I toured the Broadacres, Rocksprings and Lay Park neighborhoods on May fifth to get a feel for resident density and find routes that minimize the number of hills. I snapped some photos, and if the ones above are any indication of the need for books in these communities, it’s going to be a successful summer.