Senior wants to give kids an escape

Seventeen-year-old Vince Merkley, a Del Oro senior, has an empathy for children in difficult situations. Merkley's senior project offers a way for children to mentally escape their environments while reading a good book. He is collecting new and gently used books for ages infant to teen. He is also seeking monetary donations to purchase books. The books will be given to local children escaping domestic violence or those who are taken into protective custody. This is a good cause. All kids like to read and I hope they can use their imaginations and learn, he said.Merkley has bins for book donations at Del Oro High School and at the Loomis Fire Station. He also has a cash collection box at Blue Goose Produce. He has worked with a Scholastic Books representatives to include cash donation boxes at various local grammar school book fairs. Donations will be used to purchase books from those book fairs.Merkley, who participates in an R.O.P. firefighting program through Del Oro, plans to be a firefighter some day. After graduation he wants to attend Sierra College's fire academy and will study to be a paramedic. He is also president of Del Oro's Sportsman Club for trap shooting.Merkley's book drive is currently underway and ends April 15.