Children living at Haverhill’s Emmaus House, a family shelter, will have new books, thanks to a children’s book drive organized by a Northern Essex Community College English as a Second Language (ESL) class.
NECC’s ESL Advanced Integrated Reading students participated in a Service Learning Project with Emmaus, inc. in Haverhill this semester. In addition to collecting new and slightly used children’s books, both NECC’s and Emmaus’ ESL students participated in a discussion group based on academic readings and newspaper articles.
Paula Richards, NECC assistant professor of ESL, and her students collected and delivered the books, which were donated by faculty, staff, and students from NECC’s Haverhill and Lawrence Campuses. The books will be available in the children’s library at the Emmaus’ family shelter and also given to children who are transitioning to permanent housing.

NECC Students include (left to right in photo):
Gricelda Mora, Lawrence
Genesis M. Montilla, Lawrence
Angelica L. Nieves, Lawrence
Professor Paula M. Richards, Salisbury
Wilfredo R. Andujar, Lawrence
Anabel Cruz, Lawrence
Chrissy M. Santiago, Bradford
Jarisnelda H. Joaquin, Haverhill
Mariela Fabian, Lawrence