Many adults have fond memories of their favorite childhood books and remember the names of the authors and recite the nursery rhymes. To this day, they delight in the time that they spend inside a book’s pages and stories.
During this holiday season, shoppers can provide these treasures to children whose families are struggling to provide necessities, says the Clallam County Literacy Council.
While buying books for family and friends, people can consider purchasing an extra book for these children at Sequim and Port Angeles bookstores.
Decorated boxes for Books for Kids are at these book stores:
_ Pacific Mist Books, 121 W. Washington St., Sequim
_ Port Book and News, 104 E. First St., Port Angeles
_ Odyssey Bookshop, 114 W. Front St., Port Angeles
Marti McAllister Wolf, owner of Pacific Mist Books, says, "When you give a child a gift of a book, you open their mind to vast new worlds. Adventure, mystery, wonder and love are all things that make life so much more interesting."
The literacy council and the League of Women Voters of Clallam County are co-sponsors in this effort to provide books to children in their homes to develop the love for reading. The council encourages all families to read together and says if young children are not read to, they often start school behind their peers and stay behind.
The First Step Family Support Center, a United Way partner agency, will deliver the books.
Nita Lynn, First Step executive director, says, "We are serving over 400 families each month, and these books will be a welcome addition to these homes. Last year’s ‘Books for Kids’ program was very successful and we look forward to sharing the community’s generosity with many new families this year."