John and Bess Manesis have lived in the same home for 30 years. They were cleaning house this fall, preparing to down-size before moving and they found they had more books than they could handle…lots of books, but no where to put them.

“We started calling around to places that would take donations and we decided on Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch,” said John. Although the Manesis’ knew that Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch Thrift Stores could make good use of the books through re-sale, they wanted the books to go into the hands of the at-risk boys and girls who were residents at the Ranch’s treatment centers.

John, a retired radiologist at MeritCare, Fargo, and his wife, Bess, a former nurse, met in medical school “years ago.” The couple are both Midwesterners—John from Wisconsin and Bess from Nebraska. They raised four children of their own, who are now between the ages of 40-45, so they know and believe in the importance of encouraging young people to read. John also is a noted regional poet.

Boxes of books were divided between the three Ranch campuses in Bismarck, Fargo and Minot. These were books about baseball, golf and other sports, which appealed to the youth ages 10 to 17. After the books were given to the youth, the children wrote thank you notes to the Manesis’.

“We were so moved by the notes the children wrote,” said John. “Mainly how appreciative they were.”

In particular, John and Bess’ hearts were touched by notes from several children who wrote, “Thank you so much for the books. We’ve never had a book to call our own before.”

“I just couldn’t imagine that—not having a book of your own,” John said. So the couple gathered more books and even traveled to the local bookstore and bought several brand new ones, so the children who had never had a book to call their own, might have one more.

This set of books also was divided state-wide on the three campuses and included classics such as Huckleberry Finn and books on writing and how to write.

“We received another batch of thank you notes from the Minot school,” wrote Bess in a recent email. “The notes are so appreciative and I am happy that we donated the books to Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch.” The couple hopes that these books continue to inspire our youth.

We have received many gifts of books to the Ranch over the years. Each and every one of them is used by our boys and girls as educational tools and journeys of enjoyment. Thank you to all donors for continuing to think of how our youth might benefit from reading and learning through books.