June 2, 2026: Students at Regina Street Alternative School received a special delivery this spring as members of the Rotary Club of West Ottawa Literacy Committee partnered with StoryBook Ottawa to place a new, personally selected book into the hands of every student. After helping pack gift bags, Rotary volunteers returned the next day to deliver the books directly to classrooms, creating moments of excitement and connection throughout the school. For many children, a book of their own can be a treasured gift that helps foster a lifelong love of reading.
About StoryBook Ottawa
• 3,300+ students served in 14 Ottawa elementary schools in 2025-2026.
• Students choose a book from four grade-level options.
• Books are purchased locally and provided as gifts to keep.
• RCWO funds books for Regina Street Alternative School and helps pack and deliver them.
On May 11, RCWO volunteers Anna Jasiak, Girija Dube, Mary Wattie, and Linda Flynn joined Shaun and Susan Hopkins, the founders of StoryBook Ottawa, to help pack personalized gift bags for Regina Street Alternative School students. Each bag contained a book selected by the student from a grade-specific list of titles.
The following day, Larry Chop and Linda Flynn delivered the gift bags to classrooms with the assistance of four students from Mr. Perk’s class. Another student documented the event as the official photographer.
The delivery brought the project full circle: students selected their books, volunteers prepared the gift bags, and students helped place them directly into classrooms throughout the school.
For RCWO’s Literacy Committee, the project is a hands-on way to support literacy while strengthening connections between the club, the school, and the wider community. The excitement surrounding the deliveries demonstrated how meaningful it can be for children to receive a book they have personally chosen and can call their own.
The Rotary Club of West Ottawa extends its thanks to Shaun and Susan Hopkins, StoryBook Ottawa, the staff of Regina Street Alternative School, the student volunteers from Mr. Perk’s class, and the RCWO members who helped make this year’s project a success.
Photo Gallery
References
- “StoryBook Ottawa.” StoryBook Ottawa, https://storybookottawa.ca/. Accessed on June 1, 2026.
- “The Solution.” StoryBook Ottawa, https://storybookottawa.ca/the-solution. Accessed on June 1, 2026.
- “About Us.” StoryBook Ottawa, https://storybookottawa.ca/about-us/. Accessed on June 1, 2026.
Published on: June 2, 2026
Prepared by: Erin Ueffing