Teaching isn’t a profession, it’s a calling.

That is the attitude of the Jefferson County Retired School Employees Association. Comprised of retired librarians and elementary school teachers, the organization is dedicated to helping teachers teach, and students learn.

As part of the effort to boost student learning, this month the association put new books in the hands of second-graders, with hopes of increasing literacy rates.The program is called Books for Kids, and uses donated funds to buy books that are tailored to each student’s interests. The child’s name is placed on a nameplate on the inside cover, to increase the connection and sense of personalization.

“Every book begins with a story in someone’s imagination,” said Pat Stromberg, an association volunteer.

The organization has been distributing books since 1999. So far, members have handed out more than 5,500 books to students in more than 24 Jeffco schools. This year, 500 books were handed out across the county.

Books for Kids is supported by the Jefferson Foundation, which holds onto the group’s donated funds until it is time to buy more books, according to Foundation spokesperson Anton Delgado.

“They are just amazing people,” said Delgado. “They just stay in touch with the schools they used to work in, and help literacy.”

“They work with teachers to find out what kids are reading. They talk to specific teachers to find out if, for instance, a kid is interested in dinosaurs. Then they can get him a dinosaur book,” Delgado said.

More information about the Jefferson County Retired School Employees Association, including its annual scholarship awards, is available at www.jcrsea.org.