NEWS RELEASE
COMMUNITY OF HEARTS
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In an inspiring collaboration, Children’s Reading Room, a nonprofit dedicated to providing free books for Guelph children, is partnering with Community of Hearts Lifelong Learning Centre, an organization focused on supporting adults with disabilities to develop their skills and grow their independence. This partnership aims to enhance literacy in the community while offering meaningful volunteer opportunities that promote beneficial skill-building and personal growth to the participants at Community of Hearts.
Through this partnership, Children's Reading Room will provide valuable volunteer experience for individuals at Community of Hearts. Participants who attend Community of Hearts will volunteer their time and will take on the role of ‘Book Screeners’ carefully reviewing donated books for damage and inappropriate content, as well as performing necessary repairs. This vital work ensures that children in the Guelph community receive quality reading materials that can enrich their lives.
“This collaboration is so beneficial for both organizations,” said Ariel Haines, Program Director of Community of Hearts. “Not only are we creating an inclusive environment where adults with disabilities can contribute and give back to the community in a meaningful way, we are together helping provide more books to children and promoting early literacy! We are very thankful for the talented Book Screeners and the wonderful people at the Children’s Reading Room for providing this great opportunity.”
The initiative not only supports fostering a love for reading in the next generation but also offers the wonderful volunteers at Community of Hearts the chance to develop essential skills such as critical thinking, attention to detail, and teamwork. These meaningful volunteer experiences can build confidence and provide them with valuable work-related skills for their futures.
“We are grateful for our partnership with Community of Hearts. We love visiting the Centre, making connections, and spreading the joy of reading in the Guelph community. Thank you to everyone at COH for your dedication to community collaboration and spreading the joy of reading in the Guelph community!” Joanna Szulc, Cofounder of Children's Reading Room.
The collaboration will take place Fall of 2024 through Winter of 2025. Together they hope to inspire others to give back to the Guelph community in meaningful ways.
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