Source:  Black Issues Book Review Date:  11/01/1999 Document ID:  PN20000104110000718 Citation Information:  ISSN: 1522-0524; Vol. 1 No. 6; p. 77 Author(s):  Pat Houser

Decked with the essence of the holiday season, book clubs aren't just reading Christmas stories. They're donating time and energy to their surrounding communities, and preserving an established tradition of community activism. Although the bustle of the season includes tree trimming, stocking stuffing, and the singing of age-old Christmas carols, members of literary discussion groups-who traditionally celebrate with family and friends-are spinning newfangled tales of urban legends by, embracing others with the warmth of the holiday spirit. Listed below are just a few of the clubs that have followed in the revered.footsteps of others who serve and uplift the community through charitable deeds. Black Issues Book Review-joins these reading groups in wishing you a joyful holiday season and a happy new year.

SISTERS AND BROTHERS OF HOTLANTA BOOK CLUB Marietta, Georgia

The Sisters and Brothers of HotLanta Book Club have little time for Scrooge or his "Bah Humbug" mentality. This reading group is so endowed with the holiday spirit, they adopted two families for Thanksgiving and Christmas and distributed food, clothing, toys, and other essential items to families recommended by the Atlanta Department of Family and Children Services as part of the adoption process. When the group donated clothing, food, books, toiletries and personal items to a robbery victim, not even the "Grinch" could steal the Christmas of this single mother mugged of the holiday spirit. What's more, because these sisters and brothers place special emphasis on reading, they set off a holiday party for fourth grade students where partygoers were required to read at least 10 books to participate. Holiday gifts included dictionaries, posters, and autographed copies of The Riches of Oseola McCarty by Evelyn Coleman. With future plans that include visits to orphanages and senior citizens homes to read and entertain, the Sisters and Brothers of HotLanta Book Club have captured the true essence of the holiday season.

Contact: Carla McManus www.sistersbrothers.com E-mail: yougosista@aol.com.

IN THE COMPANY OF MY SISTAHS BOOK CLUB Suisun City, Calif.

ITCOMS members are known for their benevolent offerings to several Christmas charities. Donations to Toys for Tots and Adopt-A-Child programs top their list for charitable contributions, but these sisters have warmed many a holiday spirit by donating blankets to the homeless and assisting with the preparation of meals for homeless families at various soup kitchens and religious organizations. In addition, this reading group has established a tradition of exchanging handmade Christmas ornaments, and plans a Christmas/Kwanzaa cookie bake where each member cooks a dozen cookies from their favorite holiday recipe.

Contact: Jo D. Wright

E-mail: jwright@library.berkeley.edu.

SISTERS AND BROTHERS OF HOTLANTA BOOK CLUB Marietta, Georgia

The Sisters and Brothers of HotLanta Book Club have little time for Scrooge or his "Bah Humbug" mentality. This reading group is so endowed with the holiday spirit, they adopted two families for Thanksgiving and Christmas and distributed food, clothing, toys, and other essential items to families recommended by the Atlanta Department of Family and Children Services as part of the adoption process. When the group donated clothing, food, books, toiletries and personal items to a robbery victim, not even the "Grinch" could steal the Christmas of this single mother mugged of the holiday spirit. What's more, because these sisters and brothers place special emphasis on reading, they set off a holiday party for fourth grade students where partygoers were required to read at least 10 books to participate. Holiday gifts included dictionaries, posters, and autographed copies of The Riches of Oseola McCarty by Evelyn Coleman. With future plans that include visits to orphanages and senior citizens homes to read and entertain, the Sisters and Brothers of HotLanta Book Club have captured the true essence of the holiday season.

Contact: Carla McManus www.sistersbrothers.com E-mail: yougosista@aol.com.

EBONY BOOK CLUB Brooklyn, N.Y.

After making a list and checking it twice, Santa barely has time to load up his sleigh, let alone keep track of children who are naughty or nice. So he relies heavily on the Ebony Book Club. Underscoring the true meaning of Christmas, these literary sisters fill in as Santa's female helpers. Cloaked in festive holiday gear, reading group members sleigh down to the general post office and sort through thousands of letters addressed to Santa from families in need. The holiday mission of this band of Christmas angels is to fill the wish list of just one needy family. But with thousands of heartwarming letters to choose from, fulfilling this simple goal is no easy task. Nevertheless, The Ebony Book Club loves the warm feeling that wish granting brings, and will step up its Santa's Helpers campaign to include granting wishes not only from letters received at the general post office, but from letters addressed to the club's main headquarters as well. In addition, holiday packages will include age appropriate reading material, pencils and pens, folders, loose-leaf paper and other necessary school supplies. The Ebony Book Club is filled with spirit, not only during the holidays, but also throughout the entire year.

Contact: Ebonybclub@aol.com.

Letters for the Santa's Helpers Program should be addressed to Ebony Book Club, Attn: SantA Helpers Program, 617 Macon Street, Brooklyn, NY 11233.

UJAMA LITERARY BOOK CLUB Greensboro, N. C.

The holiday season finds the Ujama Literary Book Club busy tending to the needs of others. Members of this literary group organized a dinner basket program to benefit needy families, and unselfishly served up holiday cheer by donating money, purchasing turkeys and supplying the necessary ingredients to prepare scrumptious dinners, complete with cake for dessert. Dinner baskets, crafted from large boxes and decorated with festive holiday giftwrap, were distributed to families identified through church affiliations, social service organizations, and personal associates of friends and co-workers. in true holiday spirit, Ujama also donated notebooks, paper and school supplies to a newly formed independent elementary school as a Christmas activity. At the Ujama Literary Book Club, spreading the flavor of the season is a favorite holiday pastime.

Contact: Barbara S. Maddox E-mail: barbaram3@juno.com.

Copyright Cox, Matthews & Associates, Inc. Nov/Dec 1999

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