“My favorite player is Donavan Mitchell. I just started watching him in high school,” answered Filippo Baldo, after being asked by Mrs. Amy Emrick’s fourth-grade class who his favorite player is.

Baldo is one of 49 Moravian University basketball players who spent the school”s Heritage Day, Sept. 20, visiting students at Fountain Hill ES to “do the right thing.”

In partnership with Cops ‘n’ Kids Children’s Literacy Program of the Lehigh Valley, they read books, helped make bookmarks, played some hoops and enjoyed lunch with these young students.

Cops ‘n’ Kids began in 1997 when Wisconsin Police Officer Julia Whiterspoon started handing out books to local youth out of her squad car. The program has since grown to an international level, reinforcing community bonds through children’s literacy.

According to Beverley Bradley, chairperson and president of the Lehigh Valley branch of the organization, 1,203,245 free books have been distributed over the last 20 years throughout the community.

Bradley invited The Press to witness first-hand how the program impacts the lives of local youth, in this case, the community of Fountain Hill.

As the Moravian students entered the school, they were greeted by Bradley and school officials. Breaking up into small groups of four, they dispersed throughout the school, visiting classrooms to read books. In certain cases, like in Emrick’s class, they spoke about Heritage Day, and what it represents to both the younger and older students. Students exchanged information on their cultural backgrounds, preferences in food and music, rejoicing when commonalities were found.

In Mrs. Rachel McSorley’s Pre-K class, playing with Legos together was the big hit with the youngest students at the school.

During outdoor recess, the whole student body seemed to connect on a more personal level with their visitors. Hoops, hopscotch, tag …. Wherever one turned their attention, Moravian and Fountain Hill students were playing and laughing together.

“It’s nice seeing them so happy to see us and building some kind of connection, even if we are only with them for a few hours,” Moravian student Jules Vassalo told The Press. Her teammate Brielle Guarente added, “They make us feel special.”

Fountain Hill Elementary teachers told The Press this was a special day for their students. “I had a few students ask the Moravian basketball students how they got to play in college. It was really awesome to hear them so interested, and the Moravian basketball players saying ‘you know I had to work really hard both in the gym and in the classroom’, and that was great for the kids to see that. And they are having so much fun with them at recess, and seeing what their lives could be like. That’s pretty cool,” explained first grade teacher Julianna Thomas.

Moravian Women’s Basketball Coach and Athletic Director Mary Beth Spirk explained the school’s tradition of setting aside the third Wednesday of September to ensure everyone does something to give back to the community.

“I do believe that these kids need to learn to give back,” explained Spirk to The Press. “It’s eye opening for them.” Bradley agreed, adding, “It changes them.”

After enjoying their lunches together, it was time for Moravian students to return to their school. High-fives and hugs were seen in the hallways. For second grader Mason, saying goodbye to Marquis Ratcliff was an emotional moment. It had been a special day for him, from receiving a new book to meeting a college student who has become an inspiration to what a bright future might look like.

Mason and Marquis’ goodbye hug embodies what Officer Whiterspoon was hoping for in those early days of Cops ‘n’ Kids.