A little boy sat nervously in the doctor’s office. He was still sore from the needles a few days ago, and there would be more tests to come. After that, treatments every week. 

Too old to play with the blocks and cars in the toy bin, too young to understand Life or People, his gaze rested on a large, white, paperboard book, “I Spy: A Book of Picture Riddles” by Walter Wick and Jean Marzollo. Opening it up, he was instantly captivated by the wonder of the book and he wasn’t as scared when the nurse called him back to see the doctor. He couldn’t stop thinking about those colorful pictures and word puzzles... 

I know that kid well. It’s nearly 30 years later, and the fantasy within those pages shaped the way I go about my day, even now; they taught me to seek out the wonder around me and find beauty in everyday objects. It might sound a little silly, but those books changed my life—or at least shaped it in ways I can still see. 

Just about everyone I know can point to a book that’s impacted their life in some way. If you’ve ever read, I can almost guarantee something has moved you in some way at some point. 

At the Wayne County Community Foundation, we’re working to bring the life-changing impact of reading to every child’s home, little by little, year by year. 

Each year, we purchase every public school student in pre-K through eighth grade a new book to take home to build their own home library.  These books are thoughtfully selected by a committee of local educators, librarians, current and former students, and parents. They are picked to be entertaining, educational and thought-provoking—just the right mix to foster a lifelong love of reading.   

You can be a part of that wonderful moment and strengthen literacy in Wayne County by supporting the Building Home Libraries Fund. Your gift of just $25 or more buys up to four books that will be distributed to students in pre-K through eighth grade in Wayne Highlands, Wallenpaupack, Western Wayne and Forest City.  

Literacy is not only a necessary skill, it’s also a precious gift. That’s why I hope you’ll consider joining us in our mission. 

Donations can be made at www.waynefoundation.org.

Connor Simon is the grants and scholarship manager at the Wayne County Community Foundation, based in Honesdale, PA. He oversees and manages several of the foundation’s programs, including its Youth Advisory Committee, the Building Home Libraries Program and the Creative Communities Art Trail project. He enjoys listening to old scratchy records, making short films with his friends, and getting lost in the wilds of Wayne County, PA.