Retired teacher brings books to kids through mobile library

Bobbi Donovan's Sunshine Family Bookmobile makes weekly stops to provide reading resources to underserved Sacramento neighborhood

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Bobbi Donovan, a retired schoolteacher from California, has started the Sunshine Family Bookmobile to bring books and reading resources to children in a Sacramento neighborhood where the nearest library is nearly 4 miles away. The volunteer-run mobile library makes weekly stops, allowing kids like 8-year-old Trey Jenkins to regularly check out new books and develop a love of reading.

Why it matters

The Sunshine Family Bookmobile is helping to address the lack of convenient access to reading materials and library resources in this underserved Sacramento community, which can contribute to educational disparities. Donovan's initiative is bringing books directly to families and fostering a love of reading among local children.

The details

Donovan co-founded the Sunshine Family Outreach Center with her sister, recognizing the need for more reading resources in the neighborhood. The bookmobile is entirely volunteer-run, with the bus and books donated. Donovan and other retired teachers and librarians on the team provide book recommendations and support to help the children succeed in school.

  • The Sunshine Family Bookmobile makes weekly stops in the Sacramento neighborhood.
  • Donovan has been running the program since retiring from teaching.

The players

Bobbi Donovan

A retired schoolteacher from California who co-founded the Sunshine Family Outreach Center and runs the Sunshine Family Bookmobile mobile library program.

Trey Jenkins

An 8-year-old boy who regularly checks out new books from the Sunshine Family Bookmobile and has developed a love of reading.

Meschelle White

The grandmother of Trey Jenkins, who discovered the Sunshine Family Bookmobile and has seen her grandsons' reading scores improve and their love of reading grow through the program.

Bri Bradford

A parent in the Sacramento neighborhood who appreciates the Sunshine Family Bookmobile and the opportunity to share her passion for reading with her daughters.

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What they’re saying

“It's a mobile library. We want to get as many books into the hands of kids as possible.”

— Bobbi Donovan, Co-founder, Sunshine Family Outreach Center

“I love reading. I like reading the books. I love the pictures; I love books because there's a world of imagination.”

— Trey Jenkins

“A lot of the books that we get, the characters continue, so it's a series. They're always eager to see how it's going to play out. It's just been a great program.”

— Meschelle White, Grandmother of Trey Jenkins

“I love reading myself, but it's just nice to share the same passion with my daughters.”

— Bri Bradford, Parent

What’s next

Donovan and the Sunshine Family Outreach Center plan to continue expanding the Sunshine Family Bookmobile program to reach more children in need of reading resources in the Sacramento area.

The takeaway

The Sunshine Family Bookmobile demonstrates how a grassroots, volunteer-driven initiative can make a meaningful impact in improving educational access and fostering a love of reading among underserved children in a local community.