ROBBINSTON — In rural America, individuals can make a difference, and it happened here when a memorial request translated into books for kids.

During the past two years the friends and family of Harry and Marion Stanhope have made memorial donations to the Robbinston Elementary School library. The effort began in 1993, after Harry Stanhope passed away. His family created the Robbinston School Library Fund, and $2,200 was donated in his name. In September Harry’s wife, Marion, died and family and friends donated $3,500 in her memory.

Robbinston resident Jane Eaton, who was asked to handle purchases in the Stanhope’s memory, said the money has made an enormous difference to the library. “We didn’t have very many books at all. The first thing we did was update our space collection, because we didn’t have anything up-to-date on that,” she said.

The Stanhopes, who were born and raised in Robbinston, were married for more than 50 years, and it was their four children who set up the memorial. Eaton said the largest donation was $1,000 and the smallest was $10.

Eaton said students at the Washington County Technical College volunteered to construct new bookcases. The fund purchased the materials.

Eaton said the library was continuing to accept donations for the Stanhopes or from anyone who would like to make a donation in their own name. “What I want to emphasize is that people other than the Stanhopes have made donations and the books have been bought. We encourage more donations, and we would work with whomever gave to purchase something that would be appropriate,” she said. “The books are something you can do for your community.”