This is a story about the little engine that could. This is about Shrek fighting off the dragon with Donkey’s help. Okay, if you must have a “once upon a time” intro, let’s say that this is a story about an old town whose precious daughter loved books so much that she begged her father to build a bigger and better castle to store all of her treasured collections. Her books, audio books, DVDs, magazines, new computers, activity rooms and a bigger parking lot. And she wanted to share it with everyone. It was her dream.
This is a story about the little engine that could. This is about Shrek fighting off the dragon with Donkey’s help. Okay, if you must have a “once upon a time” intro, let’s say that this is a story about an old town whose precious daughter loved books so much that she begged her father to build a bigger and better castle to store all of her treasured collections. Her books, audio books, DVDs, magazines, new computers, activity rooms and a bigger parking lot. And she wanted to share it with everyone. It was her dream. And as fairytale as it might be, sometimes all a dream needs is a miracle to make it come true.
This is a story about the new Lakeside Branch Library.
Led strongly by the Friends of the Lakeside Library, the community has come together as it always does to bring something good for the entire community. So far, raising $40,000 out of a goal $100,000 towards building the new facility. Plans are complete, a lot on Woodside Avenue is purchased. It’s time to build.
On Jan. 10, Rise City Church Pastor Brandon Grant presented San Diego County Library Director Miguell Acosta with a very large $40,000 check at a small ceremony at the library. Together they filled the wall thermometer with red duct tape from $40,000 to $80,000. With the help of Rise City Church, the community’s fundraising efforts culminated. Acosta said that many people do not understand why libraries are still needed when people have Google. “Google can give you 10 million answers, but a librarian can give you the right one,” he said.
On Sunday, members of the Friends of the Library want to Rise City Church and the congregation listened to students from Lindo Park Elementary telling stories of how they love to ready, the importance of libraries within a community and expressing gratitude for the gift that they provided that will keep on giving. Grant took the mike and said, “To be continued, Chapter 2” as reached into his pocket with another check for $5,000. But he wasn’t done. He pulled another check for $5,000 bringing the church’s total contribution to $50,000. “We chose the Lakeside library because we wanted to be a church not just in the community, but for the community,” he said.
Acosta said it is the largest donation ever received from a faith based organization for a library in San Diego County. Grant received a list non-profit organizations to help them choose a recipient for the church’s donation from the Lakeside Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Kathy Kassel.
“I had no idea how generous that church was. I want the library, I am excited about the new library and I think it’s a huge benefit for the community,” she said.
Plans is for a 17,000 sq. ft. library, Zero Net Energy building with teen and children’s spaces and a 2,000 sq. ft. community room and 50 parking spaces and equipped with the latest in technology. This project’s estimated cost is $14 million. It is estimated that it will take two years to complete after the County Board of Supervisors receives the building permits.
