Monday, October 5, 2009

Have I done any good in the world today?

Is my new theme for at least the next six months. Not terribly original, I know. But a good theme nonetheless.
We completed this project last weekend, and I want to thank so many people who helped this project become a reality.
Community's Child is a local shelter for homeless women who are pregnant or have a baby. Some of the women also have older children in addition to a baby. When I was there volunteering last spring, I noticed the home had many comforts; nice furniture, a tv, pretty decorations, but the home was missing something important. Most of us have dozens if not hundreds of books in our homes. We realize the importance of reading, studying, and learning from the best books. Parenting experts say that the most important activity that parents can do to help children succeed in school is to read aloud to them every day from the time they are newborn. Reading to newborns helps the parts of the brain that handle speech and language develop. The more words an infant hears when a parent talks, reads, and sings, the more that part of their brain grows. Reading to babies and children will provide them with the skills they need to learn to read, write and understand information when they are older. As well as needing books for their children, many of the moms at Community's Child are also attending school and need books to help them earn their degrees and enable them to create a stable future for themselves and their children. As I met with the Community's Child director, I realized we couldn't just drop off boxes of books. Every good book needs a bookshelf! The shelter had an existing bookshelf that was adequate with a little fixing up. I arranged for wood, paint, and wall anchors to be donated so we could create a safe, stable bookshelf for all their wonderful new books. So many of my friends and neighbors helped with this project. People donated used children's story books, board books, parenting books, cookbooks, coloring books, dictionaries, and board games. Some of the teenage girls from church (Young Women) donated their time to paint the new back for the bookshelf. My husband securely bolted the shelf to the wall so no toddler can pull the shelf down if he climbs on it, or if an earthquake hits the shelf will not fall over. My sweet kids carried ALL the donated books upstairs, sorted the books, and put them on the shelves.
Thank you to all who helped bring books to the lives of families in need. You have done good in the world today.

7 comments:

Kori said...

Way to go! What an awesome service.

Anonymous said...

Awesome! Your my hero! Keep it up.
-Michelle C

Maxmomma said...

That looks so great! You did a wonderful job - I am so glad you saw to do that. Eagerly engaged in a good work....

Thanks for letting the YW be a part!

TM CLAN said...

Yay! I love reading. Way to be your contribution!!

Robynne said...

That's so cool Tamlynn!! What an great thing to do!

Lauri said...

That is such an awesome service project! I love the way you got so many people involved - from your family to the YW and those who donated the materials. It's good to see Harold back to projects too! How is his eye?

smart mama said...

love your example - WTG