By Kayla Donnenfeld
I learn a lot about different problems in the world every time I write an article for L.I.G.H.T. FOR CHARITY™ (my acronym for ‘Long Island Giving Help Together For Charity’). This is important because knowing about a problem is the first step necessary to solve the problem.
In this article I shine a LIGHT on a really wonderful charity based in Freeport, Long Island named BOOK FAIRIES, that is working very hard to help solve the problem of illiteracy throughout Long Island and New York City.
One out of every four people in New York is illiterate. People (and especially children) who cannot read are at much higher risk of suffering from low self-esteem, mental illness, health problems, unemployment and poverty.
This is a very time-sensitive issue: the sooner that reading can be made a part of a person’s life, the better the chance for a positive outcome.
One of the major reasons for Long Island’s illiteracy problem is the lack of access to books: for example schools without functional libraries. BOOK FAIRIES was formed to help solve this problem by collecting, upgrading and redistributing new and gently used books to under-resourced communities throughout Long Island and New York City. The charity brings books to schools and community organizations that otherwise don’t have the resources to buy them.
BOOK FAIRIES has collected and re-distributed over 4 million books since 2012, and its current goal is to continue doing so at the rate of at least 1 million books per year.
There are many different ways that you can help BOOK FAIRIES change lives and empower communities through the power of reading. You can help by donating money or volunteering your time.
Volunteers can help sort books, transport books, host book drives, work at monthly book fairs and do even more to help the important cause.
BOOK FAIRIES was founded by Amy Zaslansky. Eileen Minogue is its Executive Director and I learned a lot from her in researching for this article. Eileen’s favorite children’s book is titled “Love You Forever.”
I haven’t read it yet, but I plan to, and recommend that you all do so as well. I’m thankful that I have the ability to obtain and read almost any book of my choosing through my school or town library, and I want everyone else to have those same opportunities.
Please visit BOOK FAIRIES’ website at www.bookfairies.org to learn more about how you can help fight illiteracy and enable people in need to experience the love of reading.
