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Former teacher’s love of books and youth lives on at local library
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By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
Caledonia youth have the opportunity to receive a wonderful gift. That gift is a book. A total of 90 lucky kids, from pre-school through high school, will be able to pick out a book to read and to keep.
The books are being made available through Marie’s Book Fund and the Winona Community Foundation at the Caledonia Public Library. Two book-lovers from the Twin Cities area contacted the Winona Community Foundation about creating a book fund in Marie Mahle’s name.
Mahle, of Eitzen, was a school teacher in Houston County for many years. She passed away a number of years ago. Nancy Powell, a historian from Minnetonka, who works for the Minnesota Historical Society, met Mahle while doing research work.
“Nancy and Marie met while Nancy was working in Southeast Minnesota. They bonded and Nancy fell in love with Marie and her passion for books and the education of our youth,” Jenny Arnold of the Winona Community Foundation explained.
“Shortly after Marie’s death, the floods in 2007 impacted Rushford and Winona,” Arnold continued. “Many books were lost in the floods. Nancy and a friend, La Verne Drilling, who also has a real love for books, decided to create a book fund in Marie’s name. We were contracted to help organize the fund and facilitate the donations.”
Through Marie’s Book Fund and the Winona Community Foundation, libraries in Rushford and Winona were the recipients of hundreds of books. The book donations to those two communities were so well received that Powell and Drilling decided to continue their literary philanthropic program. But who should the next recipient be?
Because Marie was a teacher in the Caledonia area, Powell and Drilling set their sights on Caledonia. They contacted Caledonia Librarian Marla Burns, who enthusiastically supported the idea.
“This is a wonderful program,” Burns said last week. “We just set up a display and will be encouraging our young readers to go through the books that are available and select one. We have a wide variety of books available…for readers from pre-school through high school. The only stipulation is one book per reader.”
Inside each of the donated books is a card with Marie’s picture and the following” “this book was donated to the Caledonia Public Library and comes to us as a gift through Marie’s Book Fund of the Winona Community Foundation.”
The Winona Community Foundation explained Maire’s Book Fund thusly:
“Marie was a complex woman who lived simply, a woman who inspired many during her life with her passionate joy of learning and books. Marie’s friends began to dream of ways to provide books for children, but with the caveat that the children could pick the books themselves, in memory of this amazing woman. They felt in choosing the books themselves, children have greater ownership and confidence, which makes the impact of the gift much greater. The Winona Community Foundation is excited to be the connector in this inspiration, taking their dream to reality in conjunction with community experts…
“When we are touched by an inspiring person, such as Marie and her passion, it ignites an equal passion in us to share with others and contribute to our society – in this case, one book at a time.”
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Tax deductible donations to Marie's Book Fund can be sent to the Winona Community Foundation 51 East Fourth St. Winona MN 55987.
Indicate Marie's Book Fund on the "For" line on your check.