A few years ago, the Burnaby Christmas Bureau created a special section for books in the toy room, where registered low-income families pick out gifts for their children.
Stephen D'Souza, executive director of Burnaby Community Services, noticed that's where parents spent most of their time.
"It's actually the area where parents took the longest. We had a bottleneck around the books," he said. "They were very deliberate. They would take the time to look at the books and decide what was best for their child."
The popularity of children's books inspired the folks behind the bureau to make the section a permanent fixture in the toy room and call it the Books for Kids campaign.
"We didn't see that as our role in the community, but it's something we are embracing because our clients need it," D'Souza said. "We can't discount the value of a child having a new book that's all their own."
Burnaby Community Services, which facilitates the bureau, partnered with Literacy Now Burnaby, a collaboration of people and organizations dedicated to improving literacy. The Burnaby Public Library, which is a member of Literacy Now, was able to buy books at discounted rates from First Book Canada, and the toy room is now teeming with nearly 20 shelves full of children's books.
"We're becoming increasingly aware of the importance of literacy in our community to break the cycle of poverty," D'Souza added.
Susan Cathcart, the community literacy coordinator Literacy NOW Burnaby, thinks the book section is a great idea.
"A lot of families with low incomes don't have access to books for their children, so I think it's really a good idea to encourage children to read," she said.
Learning to read involves more than understanding the words, Cathcart explained, and it helps children develop a keen sense of curiosity and imagination. Books are also more interactive than regular toys, she added.
"Reading together, especially when children are small, that's really important," she said. "That goes a long way in preparing children for school if they already have interest in books."
The bureau may be flush with books, but D'Souza is still encouraging more donations. Anything not distributed through the toy room will be given to families throughout the year. D'Souza is also hoping to expand the Books for Kids campaign as part of his organization's ongoing commitment to improving literacy in Burnaby. Burnaby Community Services has already started a book swap at the Brentwood Resource Centre, where families can pick up and drop off books.
To get involved with the Burnaby Christmas Bureau, visit www.burnabycommunityconnections.com.
People can donate a new, unwrapped gift for the toy room, or sponsor a family or senior.
