Sturgeon Bay second-grader Katelyn Much collected over 200 books this month to stock The Door County Bookmobile. Much celebrated her 8th birthday on March 29th by hosting a Harry Potter-themed birthday party at Crossroads for Big Creek, where around 30 attendees gifted books for the cause in lieu of birthday presents, at Much's request. Local bookstore owners David and Margaret Magle also donated books to the effort.
Today, the books officially hit the shelves of the Door County Bookmobile at the Kress Pavilion Egg Harbor Library. Door County Bookmobile Vice President Carey Bertschinger graciously accepted the donation.
The Door County Bookmobile provides free books to children in kindergarten through 8th grade to promote literacy in local youth. The Bookmobile is dedicated to preserving Door County history, ensuring every child can have a book in their hands.
This year's book drive is not the first time Much has given back to the Door County community.
"Every year on my birthday, instead of asking for gifts for myself, I ask for gifts for others," Much says.
Giving back to the community has become a family tradition for Much. Each year, she chooses a local charity to support. Her other charitable projects include donating stuffed animals to Children's Hospital of Wisconsin-Fox Valley; pet supplies for Pawfee Shop Cat Cafe and the Neenah Animal Shelter; and Birthday Cake Kits, which were distributed to low-income families in Door County in collaboration with the help of Door County, Inc. and St. Vincent de Paul.
"I want everyone to be happy in the world, so I thought of charity, and that's how I did it. Because if everybody's happy, I'm happy," Much says.
At only 8 years old, Katelyn Much is making a meaningful impact on the local community, one birthday at a time.
