Literacy Lambton is hoping to spark a lifelong love of reading among the youth of Lambton County this Christmas – while also giving them a chance to develop then flex their empathy muscle – through its annual Give-a-Book campaign, Nov. 4 to Dec. 6.
The non-profit agency is asking the public to either donate new, unwrapped books or donate online so it can purchase books, all of which will go directly into the hands of toddlers, children and youth over the holiday season.
Last year the agency celebrated its best Give-a-Book campaign ever. It collected 3,104 books which were distributed through 26 partner agencies across the county. They included the Inn of the Good Shepherd, Petrolia Christmas for Everyone and Operation Christmas Tree.
Books for kids aged zero to 18 can be dropped off at Literacy Lambton’s Lochiel Kiwanis Community Center headquarters (180 College Ave. N., Sarnia), Coles in Lambton Mall or The Book Keeper in Northgate Plaza, where all purchases donated to Give-a -Book will receive a 20 per cent discount. Donations can be made online at www.literacylambton.org/donate. Tax receipts can be given out for donations exceeding $25.
Executive director Tracy Pound said she hopes to break last year’s record book haul, and has set a goal of getting 3,500 books into the hands of local youth. Already, she said, several service clubs have stepped up to give donations and residents have already dropped off some brilliant books that kids will love to read. A book is probably one of the best gifts a child can receive, Pound said, both in the short-term and the long-term. Not only does a book help children at any age better perceive the world around them, but the world will be the oyster of a child who has grown up around books, she added.
“It’s one of those things that kids can open it time and time again,” she said. “And there’s a whole lot of data that supports the more that kids have books … the better it is for them.”
Reading can also bring families together, Pound said.
“Reading together is actually a serve and return opportunity – what that means is that it’s like a tennis match. Whether that’s a baby babbling but pointing to a red ball and a parent affirming that by saying ‘yes, that’s a red ball’, books read together where you’re engaging provides that opportunity,” she said. “
There is actual proven science that these opportunities provide a stronger brain architecture more resilient to the effects of toxic stress and adverse childhood experiences. What they’re saying is that in the long-term, a strong brain architecture protects against chronic physical health diseases, mental health problems and addictions – all that just by reading.”
This year, the campaign is adopting a theme highlighting the importance of empathy and understanding others’ perspectives, Pound said. Books are an excellent way of teaching kids about these incredibly important and timely skills.
“Each year we have a bit of a theme and this year what we’re focusing on is that there is so much divisiveness in our society right now, there’s also a widespread mental health crisis. So I think exposing children to books is important … fiction books allow you to jump into the life experience of another character for a while, to experience a whole different view,” she said. “And I think it’s important that kids have the ability to read different books in order to learn different points of view, to understand that there are different lived experiences and to discover the importance of empathy.
“It’s about building that empathy muscle, building better kinder humans really,” Pound added before smiling. “Maybe more adults should be reading fiction…that would undoubtedly help them too.”