April 18. 2008 2:28AM

Books build a bridge to New Orleans

Interfaith community project

By Judy Powell CORRESPONDENT

Students of the Gregory Elementary School in New Orleans look at books donated by the Westboro interfaith community. (Courtesy photo)

WESTBORO— As students from the Gregory Elementary School in New Orleans hit the books this spring, they will have the Westboro interfaith community to thank for their library's well-stocked shelves.

Earlier this month, 155 boxes of books arrived at the kindergarten through Grade 8 facility, which reopened to bare-bones classrooms in November 2007, after the original building was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina more than two years ago.

"We are really happy about the thoughtfulness of Westboro," said Troye Washington, Gregory principal.

"We were able to stock our library as well as provide age-appropriate books for our teachers," the principal continued. "These books also have been used to continue the superintendent's reading initiative; others have been given to students to take home and create home libraries."

The book drive was organized last fall by Bobbi and Joel Feinblatt, members of Congregation B'nai Shalom's social action committee.

They contacted other churches and synagogues to join their effort because they wanted to do more than just "write a check."

"Everyone was very enthusiastic about participating," said the Berlin couple.

As a result, eight local congregations that comprise the Westborough Interfaith Clergy Association agreed to advertise and collect new and like new books for the 345-student school from January through March.

In addition to B'nai Shalom, the other religious organizations included Beth Tikvah, the Evangelical Congregational Church, the First United Methodist Church, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, St. Luke's Roman Catholic Church, St. Stephen's Episcopal Church and the Unitarian Universalist Congregational Society of Westborough.

Besides books, more than $1,200 was donated toward the drive from individuals and the Westborough Rotary Club.

That money would have gone toward shipping and handling were it not for Federal Express in Framingham, which agreed to transport all the books free, according to the Feinblatts.

Instead the funds were used to open an account at Scholastic Books for Gregory Elementary School teachers, allowing them to purchase new books.

Given tight economic times, the couple attributes the book drive's success to the collaboration of all the congregations.

"It turned out that someone from one of the churches had a contact at Federal Express, which shows how coming together as a community enabled all of us to do more," said Mrs. Feinblatt.

Sheila Allred, of Good Shepherd UCC church of Metairie, La., coordinates Project Classroom in partnership with the Lisa Mains Saley Foundation for Kids.

Ms. Allred said the teachers in New Orleans are overwhelmed by the outpouring of support that Westboro and other communities have offered.

"We think that what the people of Westboro are doing for us is fantastic," she said. "We started with one box of books and now have received thousands that are helping to rebuild the greater New Orleans area one child and one book at a time."

Anyone interested in contributing to Project Classroom may contact Ms. Allred at sheallred@gmail.com or call (504) 838-9214.