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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Books Are GEMS nonprofit bookstore has provided |
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an invaluable service to the young readers of El Paso during the |
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COVID-19 pandemic, and it is truly deserving of special |
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recognition; and |
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WHEREAS, Established to inspire children through reading and |
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to empower families through literacy, Books Are GEMS offers free |
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books to youth in El Paso County, southern New Mexico, and at Fort |
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Bliss; in addition to its store on North Loop Drive, it also works |
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with school districts, community groups, and local partners such as |
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the Lion's Club and the El Pasto Rotary Club to furnish books to |
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children and families who are not able to reach its El Paso |
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location; and |
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WHEREAS, During the COVID-19 crisis, the bookstore launched |
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its "Grab a Bag of Books" program, with each child in a family |
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receiving a bag containing one new book and several gently used |
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volumes sorted by grade level and gender; since the start of the |
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pandemic, more than 5,000 families have visited the store, and from |
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July 2020 to March 2021, over 20,000 free books were distributed to |
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area youth; and |
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WHEREAS, By fostering a love of reading and learning, Books |
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Are GEMS is opening a world of opportunity to a new generation of |
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readers, and its extra efforts over the past year have provided both |
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entertainment and enlightenment to countless young people during a |
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difficult time; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend Books Are GEMS for its contributions |
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during the COVID-19 pandemic and extend to all those associated |
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with the nonprofit sincere best wishes for continued success; and, |
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be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the organization as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |