It’s not every day that one-time volunteers get assigned the best job in the house, but that’s exactly what will happen to philanthropists who sign up to help Books Between Kids later this month.

Between May 16 and 23, that organization will be hosting the celebrations that volunteers wait for eagerly all year—the book distributions at which thousands of HISD students get to pick out free books to take home forever. Four of the 32 participating campuses this year lack the volunteer corps necessary to adequately staff these exciting events—and now, they’re asking HISD for help.

“As many of you know, the best part of the Books Between Kids…is in late May, when 20,000 HISD children select their books,” wrote co-founder Amy Barnes in an email soliciting assistance. “This is truly the most magical part of the whole year, and…we would love your help.”

During the remainder of the year, Books Between Kids volunteers spend hundreds of hours alternately sweating or freezing inside un-heated and un-air-conditioned warehouses, as they sort books in anticipation of these annual celebrations. But getting to help students select their books at the end of the school year is the best part of the job, and everyone involved looks forward to it.

“I can’t say it enough, but seeing the smiling faces of the kids and sharing in their excitement of getting books last May has kept me going all year long,” said Barnes.

If you’d like to help out by volunteering, please indicate which date, school, and session (morning or afternoon) you would like to work at this online registration tool.

Please note that all interested parties MUST be approved to work in HISD schools through the district’s Volunteers in Public Schools (VIPS) program (this requires a background check).

Volunteers who are not yet approved through VIPS can send an email to volunteer@booksbetweenkids.org for assistance in expediting their applications.