Students at Saluda River Academy for the Arts, BC Grammar School No. 1 and a Northside Middle School Special Education Class, got a gift.

The West Columbia Police Department (WCPD) donated about 800 books to the students.

“There were two books donated,” said Officer Jeff Phillips of the WCPD. “Kindergartners got a book entitled ‘It’s Stuffy in Here.’”

The book for kindergartners is by Kay Montgomery and Alex Warren. There is also a stuffed giraffe that comes with the book, and the students got a stuffed giraffe to keep, too.

Montgomery, the author, passed away about a year-and-half-ago. The books she had left were donated to the WCPD.

David Myers, the School Resource Officer from the WCPD at BC Grammar, has used the books as a chance to read to students.

A second book, “My Buddy and Me” by John Steedly, edited by Montgomery, was given to fourth-and-fifth-graders at Saluda River and BC Grammar.

Sherri Burgess, a kindergarten teacher at BC Grammar and Carin Sease, who teaches fourth-and-fifth-grade at BC Grammar, said they are thankful for the donated books, and the opportunities for reading the books afford.