The Giving Tree — Altruism at Little Bee Bookshop

AYER — Since it was published back in 1964, Shel Silverstein’s “The Giving Tree” has imparted to its readers the idea of altruism: the importance of selfless love and the joy of giving selflessly.

Now, those lessons have made their way to — and can be imparted at — Little Bee Bookshop, which is set to host its own “Giving Tree” ahead of the 2022 holiday season.

In partnership with two local organizations, Debra Rivera, the shop’s owner and founder, is set to deliver books to children of families that “could use a little extra help this holiday season.” Rivera said the selfless endeavor is something she’s wanted to do “for a long time.”

“This is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, definitely since we opened (in August 2021),” Rivera said. “I just thought it was a nice way to give back and help some of our younger readers learn the importance and value of giving to somebody else.”

The process is simple enough: Those that visit the Little Bee Bookshop on Main Street are greeted with a Christmas tree adorned with tags that include a child’s age and some of their interests. Those so inclined can then purchase a book or multiple books for one or more of those children.

Rivera said once enough tags had been removed from the tree, she would wrap the books which would then be delivered before Christmas by the two local organizations, which did not wish to be named due to privacy concerns for the children.

The idea came from personal experience; as a child, she and her family often received community aid. Later in life, Rivera tried whenever and however to pay back that kindness with her own kids.

Now, with family budgets tighter than ever amidst increased inflation and the holiday season, Rivera said the bookshop’s “Giving Tree” was the best way, in her view, to facilitate aid from the community in an “affordable” manner and provide a bit of happiness to local students.

She also touched on the “value” and “impact” of “selfless giving” for the store’s younger patrons.

“I wanted to set up something that would be accessible to everybody,” Rivera said. “And, with the Giving Tree, I felt that was something everybody could participate in even if they don’t have a lot of extra money to spend — like $5 at the max could really help a child in need.”

“And that’s the real crux of it for me. This is anonymous, it’s a different kind of giving — and teaching kids how to be able to do that, teaching them the importance of and the sheer joy of giving just to give rather than receive, that’s just so important,” she said.

Rivera announced the project on the bookshop’s Facebook page on Monday, Dec. 5. As of Tuesday, Dec. 6, more than 12 of the 90 tags had been removed from the tree.

While it was expected, Rivera said such a significant response in such a short amount of time was a positive reflection of the “character of the community” as she touched on the “humility” and “kindness” that she has seen every day since the bookshop opened in 2021.

“The response has been very nice — and, after being here as long as I have, knowing my customers, I knew it was going to be that way,” she said. “I think it just shows the great character of the community we live in.”

“People around here are very kind — I see a lot of humility, a lot of kindness every day — and are so ready to go above and beyond, to rise up and take care of each other and I think that’s just incredible,” she said.

In the future, Rivera said she hoped to continue and even expand her store’s philanthropic efforts. She also thanked those that have already come out in support of her endeavor and encouraged anyone and everyone to share their love of reading this holiday season.

“I just want to thank those that have already come in and taken part,” Rivera said. “Everyone has been so open, so embracing of the idea and so eager to give, it just makes me feel like I’m on the right track with it.”

“I would also encourage any kids and their parents that love to read to come and share that love, to pass that on and make someone’s day — whether that’s someone their age, older, younger — a little brighter,” she said.