DRE’s Message – Religious Exploration

“We don’t give thanks because we’re happy. 
We are happy because we give thanks.” Douglas Woods

On December 4, 2011, Cynthia Breeden-Johnson the Literacy Plus Program Coordinator at Hayward Public Library will be visiting our Religious Exploration Program.  She will bring us a marvelous gift. She will bring us information about children who would love to have books in their homes to read.  She’ll tell us their first name, their age, and something about their interests.  Then the children and youth in our Religious Exploration program will prepare a “little library” for each child wishing books.

Each little library will include about 10 books especially chosen for each child.  The books will be placed into a backpack and then the backpack will be personalized with the name of the child who will receive it.  On December 10, 2010, about 40 “little libraries” will be delivered to the Literacy Plus Program for distribution during their holiday party.

There is plenty of work to be done before the libraries can be assembled.  First, we will be collecting children’s books that can be used in the project.  If you have any children’s books that you no longer need we welcome them for use in this project.  Please place them in the box labeled “little libraries” in the hall at the church.  Or we could also use your “helping hands.  Over the next two weeks we’ll need to separate about 40 boxes of books by age and interests and prepare the backpacks for filling.  If you would like to help, please come join us on 11/20/11 or 11/27/11 from 11:45 pm to 1:45 pm in the area where the pre-school and school-age religious exploration occurs.

These little libraries are powerful indeed.  As Katherine Mansfield reminds us, “The pleasure of all reading is doubled when one lives with another who shares the same books.”