January 30 is a hard day for Amanda Tatum.

For the past 11 years, the day has been filled with tears, empty memories and the pangs of loss that only those in grief can understand.

It was on that day, more than a decade ago, her little brother, Ben, was killed in a car accident.

“It totally devastated my world,” Tatum said.

For years, on the anniversary of Ben’s death, Tatum would honor the Jewish tradition of “yahrzeit” – taking the day to reflect and mourn the loss of her only brother.

“I always reserved that day to pour over pictures, read everything, watch videos,” Tatum said. However, as more years passed, and her own children began to grow, Tatum wanted to take her mourning in a different direction.

“I needed to do something a little happier,” she said.

On that day, Tatum decided to bring doughnuts to her daughter’s school, Kempsville Meadows Elementary School. While there, she noticed the school was having a book exchange, where students could come in and swap books with their classmates.

Tatum, a teacher herself at Point O’View Elementary school, was immediately inspired by the idea: What about the children who do not have books to swap?

Ben had always been an avid reader, and, in her mind, what better way to honor her brother than making sure the next generation of readers could start their own collections.

After cleaning through her personal library at home, Tatum had 58 books from her house she was ready to donate. It would be enough for a class or two, but then, she thought, what if she could get enough books to give a book away to every child in one grade level?

She enlisted help with a small circle of friends and coworkers – asking for any new or gently used books that she could give away.

“For me, I was giving the books is honor of (Ben), but I wasn’t telling people,” she said.

Even without knowing the root cause, friends and family enthusiastically brought in old books – and they brought well beyond expectations. By winter’s end, Tatum had collected more than 1,100 books. That was more than enough for every child at Kempsville Meadows to take home their own book.

“People were just giving more and more books,” Tatum said. “It was very, very humbling…I cried. I just sat down and cried.”

Working with the school administration, the school set up tables and laid out all the books – separated by grade level – for the children to come in and select their own book.

Inside each book was a little sticker, designed by Tatum, designating it as one of Ben’s Books.

“It was like a book fair, but better,” Tatum said.

As if one school were not enough, soon Tatum’s colleagues at Point O’View heard of her work. They wanted in as well. Principal Paulette France asked Tatum if she would have enough books to hold a similar giveaway at Point O’View.

“It’s amazing the fact that out of her grief she has found a way to… do something for someone else,” France said. “She has this glow about her. If there’s anything she can do to help other people – to encourage someone else to help someone else – that’s what she does.”

Tatum took the challenge head on and fellow teachers, community members and friends again looked through their collections to help give to the cause.

Last week, Ben’s Books had another giveaway – every child at Point O’View received a book.

“I don’t think she really imagined how big it could really get,” France said. “Every single child was able to touch a book and that’s a testament to the heart she has…she’s an angel, that’s what I think she is.”

Now, the school plans to turn the giveaway into an annual event, one that Tatum thinks would maybe cause her baby brother to blush.

“He didn’t like to be fawned over or the center of attention – I think he’d be embarrassed,” Tatum said, before adding, “I think he would have been very proud. I think (he) would say this is amazing.”

For more information, or to donate new/gently used books, Tatum can be reached at Point O’View Elementary School.

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