Author Archives: John Umekubo

Lennox Middle School Book Club

It’s after school on a Tuesday in February. The Lennox Middle School Book Club members have gathered around the table. Our Lumenary, María Saldaña, leads the discussion on two books they have recently read. The students, a blend of middle school ages, sit quietly at first. In her soft yet confident voice, María sets theContinue reading “Lennox Middle School Book Club”

A Very Special Giving Tuesday

With a heavy heart, we arrive at Giving Tuesday this year, and today we ask that you consider a donation to another organization. Gabriel Stauring and Katie Jay Scott ran the organization known as iACT, whose mission is to “provide humanitarian action to aid, support, and extend hope to those affected by mass atrocities.” Gabriel andContinue reading “A Very Special Giving Tuesday”

Board Member Spotlight: Christine

Over the summer, our board member Christine developed a Sensory Path on the playground at Buford Elementary School. The purpose of a Sensory Path is to allow students to use exercise and motion to release stress and cope with various emotional states. Christine worked with DaVinci High School students to design and map out theContinue reading “Board Member Spotlight: Christine”

Lumenary #3 – María Saldaña

As we return to school this fall, we are honored to announce our third Lumenary, María Saldaña, English teacher at Lennox Middle School in Lennox, California. In addition to her full-time teaching position, María coordinates the after-school LMS Student Book Club, a program we have chosen to support. Read her full story It seems thatContinue reading “Lumenary #3 – María Saldaña”

Ready for the First Day of School

The installation of the Little Free Library for 156th Street Elementary School took place this past Sunday. We loaded the library, wood supports, and bags of cement into the truck and made for our destination. As with all construction projects, it seems, the process wasn’t without its hiccups. Upon arrival, we discovered we had noContinue reading “Ready for the First Day of School”

LFL Campaign Update

The build for our Little Free Library, supported entirely by the generous donors for this campaign, is complete. The funds raised covered all material costs and the installation at 156th Street Elementary School that will take place in late summer. While we anticipated purchasing books with the excess funds, the library will now be filledContinue reading “LFL Campaign Update”

Little Free Library Campaign

Over this next month, we are running a select fundraising campaign to install a Little Free Library (LFL) for Mrs. Dudley and her students at 156th Street Elementary School.  The cost for materials and installation is $400. With your help, we can make this happen. Our founder, John Umekubo, will design and build the LFL, similar to the oneContinue reading “Little Free Library Campaign”

Lumenary – Sidra Dudley

Smiles. It’s all you see, even through the protective masks they wear. Beaming from ear to ear, these young learners have returned to campus after more than a year. For some, like the Kindergarten students, it is their first time stepping foot on campus. The attending student body is at fifty percent capacity to accommodateContinue reading “Lumenary – Sidra Dudley”

The Freezer Is In!

Our first Lumenary, Kim Cameron, and her team at the Warrior Food Pantry received the commercial freezer this week. Thank you to all of our generous donors for helping to make this happen. This gift will positively impact the students facing food insecurity by providing goods that might otherwise be turned away as donations because theyContinue reading “The Freezer Is In!”