Books can open whole worlds — you just need to have one first.
This holiday season a local partnership aims to put a book under every tree for the children of Holiday Hamper recipients. Holiday Hampers are distributed annually by the Nelson Food Cupboard to more than 500 people who are working hard to make ends meet, including 150 children.
Columbia Basin Alliance for Literacy, the Nelson Public Library, Railtown Coffeehouse, and Mountain Baby have teamed up to see a book included for every child aged 0 to 15 years. To help reach their goal, they are requesting donations of new books.
"This is a great initiative," says the Nelson Library's teen and literacy services co-ordinator Melodie Rae Storey. "Every child should receive the gift of reading, now and throughout the year."
Donations should be unwrapped and may be dropped in dedicated boxes located at the Nelson Library, The Learning Place (lower level of City Hall), Railtown Coffee in the historic CPR building, Otter Books, and Mountain Baby on Baker Street until December 15.