Starbucks sponsors book and toy drive

Starbucks coffee shops across the world are participating in a book and toy drive to help sick children under the age of 12. The Starbucks located at Four Corners is encouraging its customers and local high schools to donate new or used items in good condition.

The drive is in its fifth or sixth year, according to Farida Ibrahim, Store Manager of the Woodmoor Starbucks. Each year, the individual Starbucks branches make personal goals of how many books they hope to collect. Ibrahim is not sure what her goal will be this year, but she has been collecting books since last August and hopes customers, high-school students and the general community will drop off books at the Woodmoor location at their earliest convenience.

The presents gathered in the toy drive will be distributed in collaboration with the Children's Foundation to needy children, such as cancer patients. In the past, the PTSA has helped make the toy drive successful, said Ibrahim. "Blair students are the greatest. They've been my customers. It'd be great for them to be involved [in the book and toy drives]," Ibrahim stated.

Ibrahim says she is doing whatever she can to promote the project and aid underprivileged children in the Montgomery County area. "We're working with the community and trying to help libraries and schools encourage reading at home," Ibrahim said. She added that people should help not only because the public benefits but because the process is fulfilling. "It's cool to be able to help people. It's bringing a little joy into their lives," she also explained.

For more information about the two projects, call 301-681-6440 and ask for Farida Ibrahim.