Español
English
Elmira (WENY) — While some people leave the spring for cleaning, others may be trying to give themselves a fresh start for the new year. If you’re cleaning stuff out and find yourself with unwanted books, one local program is more than willing to take them off your hands and put them to good use.
F.I.L.L. stands for Freeway Insurance Loves Literacy and it’s a new program started by one woman who is aiming to FILL the next reader’s bookshelves with new material. Jessica Degarmo is the branch manager of Freeway Insurance in the Southside of Elmira. Six months ago, after cleaning out her children’s bookshelves, she brought the extras into the office and started giving them out. She did the same with her own collection of books and sent out a call for action of Facebook for more donations. Next thing she knew, Jessica had 7 boxes full of books ranging from children stories to notable classics and romantic novels. Jessica began the F.I.L.L. program to promote reading and literacy, and the rules are simple;
“We want the public to come in and take a book. You don’t have to bring it back, you don’t have to be a customer. You just have to want to read! F.I.L.L. stands for more than just Freeway Insurance Loves Literacy. I want them to fill their bookshelves, and I want them to fill their minds with all of the great things reading can bring,” Degarmo says.
F.I.L.L. is also looking for donations of hats, scarves and mittens for Jessica to donate to the Samaritan Center this week. Books and charity donations can be dropped off at Freeway Insurance on 230 South Main Street in Elmira.
