By Lindy J. Gwinn, Mountain Valley News staff
Children at the Cedaredge Elementary School are collecting books for the new library that is being built at their new school. This book drive is not like any other book drive, this one is in honor of their classmate Wyatt Tietz who passed away as a result of childhood cancer.
The staff at CES has been brainstorming ideas that would allow the children to do something in honor of Wyatt since he passed away. When the idea of a book drive for the new library came up, it seemed the perfect project.
According to Rhonda Mackey from CES, “We contacted Wyatt’s parents and asked them what they thought, and it seemed like just the right thing. You see, Wyatt loved books and spent hours reading in the library.”
The book drive is officially though the month of January, but the staff and Wyatt’s family believe that the books will continue to flow in long after that date has come and gone.
The children are bringing books that mean something special to them and their family and they are donating them to what will be “Wyatt’s Corner” in the new Cedaredge Elementary School library.
“We will put book plates in the books that are donated in the memory of Wyatt,” said Mackey.
Heather Tietz, Wyatt’s mother, said that when she heard about the book drive, she was overwhelmed at the love and support that continues to be bestowed on her family.
“Marla Stratman and I are going to do a corner or a special designated spot in the library and we are going to call it Wyatt’s Corner. Wyatt loved trains, so I am going to find a train rug and then we are going to buy more books later and put in that section of the library along with all the donated books. It will be a special place for Wyatt’s classmates to go and remember Wyatt. My daughter will be starting kindergarten next year, and what a great thing that will be for her to be able to go and see how much our family is loved by this community,” said Heather.
“I am amazed when I think Wyatt was my son and this whole community loved my son. That is amazing and powerful. I don’t want people to ever forget Wyatt or what he meant to this community. This is a great opportunity for him and his memories to live on and do good for everyone that this touches,” she said.
