When Milaina Bell heard she was the winner of the Jazzed about Reading raffle for a Coeur d’Alene Lake Cruise, she jumped for joy.

Sponsored by digital artist and philanthropist Alan Golub, Bell’s cruise ride was the grand prize for the Read a Great JAR Book Contest organized through Jazzed about Reading.

JAR, a local nonprofit, celebrates literacy and cultural enrichment by encouraging students to open their minds through reading.

“I want to help kids understand the power reading has to transform their lives for good if they read the right books,” JAR founder and children’s book writer Annie Winston said. “We choose books that we feel meet our goals of education, inspiration and fun.”

Since starting the nonprofit in 2018, Winston and Golub have visited several schools within Lakeland School District to encourage young children to ignite their inner bookworm. JAR has donated almost 700 books over the last three years to the Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, Liberty Lake and Spokane Valley communities.

“We want kids to be exposed to the best writers and help develop a healthy worldview,” Winston said.

The Read a Great JAR Book Contest is one way JAR has continued to promote reading. Students from each of the five schools Winston and Golub visited were encouraged to finish Winston’s book, “Ivan Von Penguinsky,” and write a report to be entered in the raffle for the grand prize.

“The book is about a reading-challenged penguin that helps children understand why reading is so important,” Winston said.

Bell, a 10-year-old student at Athol Elementary School, was one of five to win a cruise ride.

Winston said seven members of Bell’s family celebrated their reading championship on the cruise ride earlier this month. While there, Winston found out that she had already met the Bell family several months before at a Coeur d’Alene UPS store and gifted one of her books to Bell’s twin brother, Charles.

“My heart went out to them. The mother was in a wheelchair, struggling, and had her little son with her, so I struck up a conversation,” Winston said. “I just thought, ‘How can I show them I care?’ and asked if (Charles) would like a book. Of course, he got excited.”

Little did Winston know she would be seeing the Bell family again so soon.

“Life certainly gives us opportunities to be a blessing,” Winston said with a laugh. “Sometimes, you never know if you’ll meet up again with those folks you’re honored to bless.”

Next up for JAR and Winston are a series of storytime events at six regional libraries in Post Falls, Hayden and Spirit Lake.

Info: jazzedaboutreading@gmail.com or www.jazzedaboutreading.org