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This year I've decided to lend a helping hand, to volunteer more often than I have in the past, a goal that tops my list of New Year's resolutions. It can be found just above clearing out my sad, over-worked bookcase and getting better about scheduling salon appointments so I'm not stuck rocking trailer park hair every six weeks.

Well, as luck would have it I've found something that will satisfy two of those aspirations. The salon thing will just have to wait. Many of you may have heard about the Belfair Free Dreams Teen Center that recently opened. A collaborative effort between BREC, the Big Buddy Program, the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Baton Rouge, Health Care Centers in Schools and the Louisiana Primary Care Association, the center just wrapped up its first semester of operation and is already proving to be a huge hit with local teens, but it needs the community's help.

Organizers are trying to build up the center's library in an effort to put books in the hands of area teens. To do that, the Book Box Brigade was formed. The kick-off mixer was Saturday, but there is still plenty of time to get involved. In fact, this initiative is just starting to gain momentum.

There are many ways you can help. You can become a "brigadier" and volunteer your time to get the word out and help recruit others to this worthy cause. You can donate money to help the center obtain books on its wish list, or you can donate books taking up precious real estate on your bookshelves or purchase some new reads from one of our many local bookstores. Any way you look at it, you're sharing the gift of reading. To find out more contact bookboxbrigade@gmail.com.