“There is more treasure in books than in all the pirate’s loot on Treasure Island,”  Walt Disney is quoted as having said.  And soon, foster kids in Great Bend will be receiving some of that loot.
Friends of the Hutchinson Public Library donated hundreds of books to St. Francis Community Services Hutchinson office in February.  Their wish: To instill a love a reading, and a sense of ownership among the foster children served out of the Hutchinson and Great Bend offices, said Shane Schneider, Director of Communications for the agency.  
A week ago, Great Bend received over 200 titles, including many from the popular series Goosebumps.  Linda Arthington, LMSW, is ready to start giving them to agents who will in turn give them to the  children they work with.   
“These are books the kids can keep,” she said.  “Many of our kids don’t have many personal belongings.  Gifts like these are appreciated.”
Many of the children that are served through St. Francis love to read, she added.  The books range from board books for the youngest readers, to young adult novels for teens.