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Books a Way of Life and Love for Makuch

Books are a life-long passion for Suzanne Makuch. After 40 years of teaching and running a local childcare program for little ones, Makuch decided to direct her love of literacy through the Camarillo Republican Women’s efforts to promote reading in the community.

Spearheading CRW’s partnership with the Laura Bush Literacy Project has become a full-time labor of love for Makuch, who has been finding creative ways to share books with children since the program began in 2001. Her commitment begins at home. Sitting in her living room surrounded by shelves full of books, Makuch points to a cozy corner where she welcomes young visitors to come hear a story, get a hug, and choose a book of their own to take home.

“Every child deserves a good book.” That has become Makuch’s motto as she shares her literary cache in local libraries, classrooms and parks - anywhere she can find a youngster hungry for a good book. She works closely with the local transitional living program RAIN to build library resources and reading programs that serve the needs of homeless families.

Although most of Makuch’s books stay in the Camarillo community, she has dispatched books by the case as far as a school in Denver (where her grandkids live) and the fire ravaged community of Ramona which last summer put out a plea for books to give children whose homes had burned. With the help of CRW, Makuch sent five cases of books to support the cause.

That drive and determination are the reason Makuch and CRW received a recent award from the National Federation of Republican Women recognizing their success and dedication to the cause of literacy.

”I’ve given away more than 25,000 books over the years,” says Makuch. “You give children a love of books and they’re set for life.”

But books aren’t just for kids. Makuch sees books as a lifeline to all generations from the cradle to the aged. For the last two years, Makuch, with the help of her sister, has ventured out to the Veterans Hospital in West Los Angeles bearing gifts for 77 veterans during the holiday season. “We took gift packages with two nice books, toiletries and personal items, and lots of other goodies,” Makuch said of the $80 care packages. “Not to mention, lots of hugs. The vets were so grateful. They didn’t know anyone cared that much or even knew that they were there.”

Garage sales, bargain book stores, generous friends and neighbors – Makuch collects books everywhere she goes. And when a child outgrows one book, she’s happy to exchange it for a fresh one.

Children’s books in good condition may be donated to the Laura Bush Project to put a book in every child’s hand. For information email angelsue03@yahoo.com.

Dana Tibbitts writes personal & corporate histories. WhitestoneHistories.com.