Guadalupe Florez, St. Francis Center intake coordinator and community relations specialist, displays hundreds of new books, valued at more than $3,000, that were donated to the facility in time for Christmas by the Barnes & Noble store in Valparaiso. Michele Craig, store manager, said customers are asked, when making a purchase, if they would like to donate toward the value of a book, or select one to donate. Florez is shown with numerous copies of popular teen-adolescent publications, that included The Hunger Games series.
“Our customers were especially generous this year,” Craig said. Located on the Franciscan St. Margaret Health-Dyer campus, St. Francis Center is a residential treatment program for youths, aged 12 to 18, who require a highly structured and controlled environment to help them achieve success. For more information or to make a donation, contact Florez at (219) 865-2141, ext. 45896.