By Jennifer FeinbergThe Progressjfeinberg@theprogress.com
Jun 22 2007
Becoming a devoted bibliophile at a tender age has its advantages.
Five-year-old Abbe DeBruyn became the youngest recipient ever to receive a City of Chilliwack Heartfelt Volunteer award this month.
“The standard she has set at such a young age is amazing,” said Mayor Clint Hames at the council meeting Monday night.
Since the age of three, Abbe has shown dedication beyond her years by working diligently in the Promontory Heights elementary school library for an hour and a half every Monday, Hames told the crowd in council chambers.
Abbe has been helping Promontory Heights teacher/librarian Ms. Wandl with scanning and checking in returned books.
“She has an excellent work ethic,” Mayor Hames said.
Councillor Dorothy Kostrzewa, who is on the Heartfelt Volunteer committee, was impressed by Abbe’s commitment to the school library, especially for her age.
“We’ve awarded teens in the past but never before in our history has the award gone to someone so young,” she said. “Abbe is a terrific bookworm and loves going into the library.”
The young book-lover recently asked for the extra responsibility of collecting books from several of the primary classes. She can already distinguish between fiction and non-fiction, and readers from novels.
“It warms my heart to know that more and more young people are volunteering,” she said.
Abbe was recognized by Mayor Hames with a Heartfelt Volunteer award certificate and pin.
