Launching Libraries Project Helping the Community

Sarah Maddox, KHK Reporter - Intern, Age 16

Kids Helping Kids, a youth led not for profit, began an unprecedented project, “Launching Libraries”,

to provide a Taking Library at the Stamford Yerwood Center for families in need. The library was

originally only a temporary project, but its huge success has created a permanent resource for the

community. While many other Kids Helping Kids events take place at the Yerwood Center,

“Launching Libraries” has had the most impact with youth volunteers collecting over 34,123 books to

date. 110 youth volunteers from over 33 different schools pitched in to make this impressive library a

reality.

The wide range of books at the Yerwood Center are all free and easy to pick up. Unlike a regular

library, families can keep all of the books that interest them. Many people in the community take

advantage of this opportunity and fill up bags of books at the well-organized but diverse library. The

Yerwood Center now gives the gift of reading to children, adolescents, and families who might not

have access to it otherwise.

Yerwood Center volunteer Debbie Campbell is a strong supporter of the Kids Helping Kids charity and

the Taking Library. “We continuously want to offer the service of reading and let young people read,”

she said. “The more you know the better.”

Children and teenagers have been especially fond of the Taking Library. Ms. Campbell has to set aside

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid and the Harry Potter series, which

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series at the Taking Library. Before, he never read, and suddenly he began

staying up until 2 am reading books. “Every night, kids are reading now,” said Ms. Campbell. The

Yerwood Center plans on hosting a reading night sometime in the near future, where kids can come

dressed in their pajamas and go shopping for books.

Any donated books can be dropped off at the Yerwood Center and would be greatly appreciated. “We

take it for granted that we have access to books,” Ms. Campbell said. Thanks to Kids Helping Kids,

everybody is given a chance to gain the knowledge that books provide. “The community is reading.”

A special thanks to all our community collection sites, Disney for Friends for their grant, and donated

bookshelves from King Low Heywood Thomas School and California Pizza Kitchen and Shop

Rite/Grade A for their continued support. To get involved, please go to www.KidsHelpingKidsCT.org