by Elaine Durbach
NJJN Staff Writer

August 4, 2009

This past spring, Lindsey Curewitz, a passionate reader for much of her 17 years, decided that if donating her unwanted books to the public library was a good thing, getting lots of other people to donate books would be an even better thing.

At the latest count, the West Windsor teen had collected over 2,700 books for the Trenton Free Public Library, in addition to those from her own shelves. Her goal is 10,000. She is also collecting items like books on tape, DVDs, cassettes, and games. The project is dubbed “Books Going Places.”

Many of those items will go into circulation. Those that aren’t needed will be sold to raise desperately needed funds to buy new media.

Lindsey’s father, Barry, said his daughter is always full of ideas. He and his wife, Melissa, lend guidance. “You don’t want to be saying ‘no’ all the time,” he said. They encourage her and her brother, Max, 15, to give things a try, “and maybe provide a crutch to prevent them from failing.”

They have also encouraged their children from an early age to engage in tikun olam, helping heal the world. For years now, one Sunday a month the whole family gets up early and packs and delivers food parcels for the Philadelphia-based Jewish Relief Agency.

The family lessons have taken hold. Lindsey is also a member of the Jewish Community Youth Foundation, which trains young Jews in the habits of philanthropy. Each JCYF teen contributes at least $120 a year. In the local chapter, their donations are matched dollar for dollar by both United Jewish Federation of Princeton Mercer Bucks and the Ricky and Andrew J. Shechtel Philanthropic Fund. The program is run through Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Mercer County.

Lindsey said her involvement with JCYF has given her a fascinating education as she learns year by year about all the different areas of activism, whether it’s dealing with poverty or boosting cultural programs or getting involved in advocacy and outreach.

At the most recent annual meeting of the PMB federation, as a member of its youth advisory board, Lindsey delivered a report on JCYF’s activities. Asked if she was nervous addressing the adult community leaders, Lindsey said she got over her anxiety as a member of the student congress at her school, Pennsbury High, and with its debating society, a part of the National Forensic League.

For two weeks this summer — as a member of the Mitzvah Corps, the teen service arm of the Union of Reform Judaism — she helped re-establish a New Orleans school wiped out by Hurricane Katrina.

Now home and back in action with her book project, Lindsey admitted that the shelves she cleared in her room are already almost filled with new books. Her favorites have been fantasy stories, like the Harry Potter books, the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and, most recently, the Twilight series.

But at some point, those volumes, too, will go the way her Berenstain Bears, Dr. Seuss, and other favorite books went this year — to others who love reading as much as she.

To donate books or other media to the Trenton library, e-mail Lindsey at booksgoingplaces@gmail.com to organize a pick-up. All books, CDs, DVDs and board games are welcome.

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