Jennifer Frances of Florida thought she had achieved it all. She had the right car, the right clothes, a house to precisely the right sofa and matching dishes.
“All those great things you are supposed to have,” said Frances. “Then, you’ve made it.”
But, on Tuesday, Aug. 19, Frances will be in the Shiretown at the Houlton Parks and Recreation Center from 3-6 p.m. fulfilling her life’s calling …. Bess the Book Bus.
Bess the Book Bus is a mobile literacy van that travels across the country giving free books to school-age children. Frances is being hosted by Aid for Kids, a branch of the Degenhardt Foundation.
“I hope parents take the time to stop by with their children and take advantage of this great opportunity to receive free books,” said Houlton’s Danette Ellis of Aid for Kids.
After graduating from college with a degree in psychology, Frances seemed to have the picture-perfect life society had painted. She was working in the apartment industry and loved her job. She pretty much achieved everything she thought you were supposed to achieve. Frances had all that, but there was still a hole, she said.
“So, I decided I would try to find a volunteer opportunity in my community,” she explained. “I just really could not find the right fit. I was disappointed and frustrated.”
Frances sat down, started listing things she thought she could do and be good at to what she would do if she could do anything in the world.
“A book bus came straight into my head,” she said. “Clear as a bell the idea came in.”
So, Frances cashed in her 401K retirement fund eight years ago to began her life’s work.
“Thank God for my naivety,” she said. “I thought, this will be easy. I will just cash in my 401K and I bought a Volkswagen bus and I will just do that. It will be a cinch.”
Frances said, luckily for what she calls the “pull of the moon” the way it happened.
“It was such a strong pull,” she said. “Every time I listen to that, I seem to be led in the right direction with this bus. Over the years, it’s become more and more fortunate. We are still greatly under-funded for the most part, but somehow, we put the pieces together and it works out.”
Bess the Book Bus has traveled nationwide the last two years.
“We’ve had some really fantastic sponsors,” said Frances. “That is how we get to do our nationwide travels.”
Although she has been many places, Maine was a state that eluded her. She had been contacted by Ashland’s high school librarian, who inquired about books for the new high school just constructed. But due to financial constraints, she was unable to help.
But, while in New York City this summer on the first part of her nationwide tour, which takes her to 22 states where she gives away about 20,000 books to 7,000 kids, CNN did a segment for its “Leaders With a Heart.” Frances was already on her way to Camden, N.J. thanks to sponsorship of Transitions Lenses, Townsend Press, and Citgo. But, a gentleman made a gift of $500 after the segment, leading Frances to think about taking that money and heading to Maine, since they would be close.
“I thought, I just wish I knew a great place to go,” she said.
Coincidence or destiny, Frances received a phone call from Ellis, who works with Aid for Kids, who saw the story aired.
“She called and asked if there was any chance I’d be interested in coming to Maine,” Frances recalled. “I was able to answer her with a resounding ’Yes. We would absolutely, positively love to come to Maine.’ I then was able to call [Ashland] back and set up a time for them to come and pick up books for their library.”
Ellis called First Book, a national, nonprofit organization which gives books away to agencies like Bess the Book Bus, and because of that call and a previous partnership with them, Frances will be picking up an additional 4,000 books earmarked just for Maine.
“We are very, very fortunate,” she said.
Bess the Book Bus is named after Frances’ nana, Bess O’Keefe.
“My dad was a traveling comedian, so my mom and I stayed with her,” she said. “My nana always read to me. On weekends, she, my mom and I would stroll into town, either to Oxford Library in Mass. or down to the little village in Oxford-Webster area, where I would get to pick out a new book to take home. Nana would read it to me – usually a little Golden Book – and I have always associated her with books.”
Frances had a younger cousin who had two nanas, so he called O’Keefe, Nana Bess.
“But, he couldn’t say nana Bess, so he called her Nana bus, Nana bus,” laughed Frances. “So, when the idea came into my head, it was very, very clear it would be the Bess the book bus – Nana bus.”
Bess the Book Bus will supply between 25,000 to 27,000 books this summer to youth, and the second part of their trip will incorporate a dozen states. Frances sees children growing up, learning to love reading and to love books.
“It’s their excitement. It’s wonderful,” she said. “It’s ultimately fulfilling.”
Frances has been featured in People magazine, as well as on the CBS Morning Show, feels truly blessed.
“I wouldn’t trade it for the world,” she said. “If someone paid me a million dollars today to walk away, I would not in any way, shape or form do it.”
Despite the challenges and lack of resources, Bess the Book Bus rolls on.
For more information, call Frances at 1-813-545-6321. The mobile bus will be giving away free books, and Aid for Kids and Adopt a Block will be having popcorn and prize giveaways.
For more information on Aid for Kids, call Dawn Degenhardt at 538-7899.