By Michelle Otten Guenther,
CEO
Queen City Book Bank
The Queen City Book Bank (QCBB) was excited to host a community-wide Book Giveaway Day on Tuesday, October 22. Doors were open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., welcoming visitors and distributing a total of 4,255 books to community partners, families, children and teachers. Thanks to numerous generous book drives and donations throughout the year, QCBB can distribute these wonderful books to those who need them most — children and families in our city.
CEO of Queen City Book Bank, Michelle Otten Guenther shared, “I am incredibly grateful to all our many volunteers who make this day possible! QCBB is truly about the community showing up to prioritize literacy. We are incredibly lucky to have so many friends and supporters who share in our mission.”
Local author, Chuck Aardema, joined in the fun signing and donating copies of his book, “In My World,” to visitors. There were even surprise guests from the University of Cincinnati Women’s Basketball Team. These athletes worked alongside elementary students from Stacey Jones’ middle school class, volunteering and enjoying story time with them.
Local author, Chuck Aardema, signs copies of his book, “In My World,” for Queen City Book Bank visitors. Photo provided 
Players from the University of Cincinnati Women’s Basketball Team and Queen City Book Bank CEO Michelle Otten Guenther tour the facility on Book Giveaway Day. Photo provided 
Stacey Jones and her middle school class from Gamble Montessori High School enjoy time touring and volunteering at the Queen City Book Bank. Photo provided 
Players from the University of Cincinnati Women’s Basketball Team enjoy story time with students from Stacey Jones’ class at Queen City Book Bank’s Book Giveaway Day. Photo provided
Jones shared, “Today we visited one of my favorite places in Cincinnati and my students got the chance to make their mark on literacy. We had a wonderful time at the QCBB touring the facility, learning about their important mission, and most importantly, how we can help. We also had the honor of meeting members of the UC Women’s Basketball Team. They were awesome and even autographed my students’ copies of the book they read to us.”
About the Queen City Book Bank:
Queen City Book Bank works in tandem with the community to champion the development of literacy through tutoring, little free libraries, literacy outreach and guaranteeing book access for our neighbors. The QCBB program will provide 10 new books annually to more than 30,000 under-resourced elementary students in the Greater Cincinnati area.