Library Hosting Community Service Projects

Library Hosting Community Service Projects

The Shelby County Public Library has split its annual philanthropic efforts in tripartite this holiday season. The Library will play host again to the yearly Reading Reindeer program, which seeks to provide free-to-keep books to young children in Shelby County. New to SCPL this year is an Act of Kindness campaign, designed to deliver greeting cards to residents of local nursing homes. Additionally, SCPL is collaborating with the local restaurant 1021 Parks Place and its proprietor, Joseph Lamb, to host a winter wear drive for those in need. For more information about any program, contact the Library at (502) 633-3803 or visit www.scplibrary.net.

Reading Reindeer Program

What is Reading Reindeer?

The Reading Reindeer program is designed to open children’s minds to the joy of reading by giving them a book of their own to keep, at no cost to the child or their family. Books will be distributed to children attending several community locations, including Northside Early Childhood Center, Head Start, the Dorman Center, and the Salvation Army project with the Shelbyville Fire Department.

Library Director Pam Federspiel, when asked about Reading Reindeer, said: “Reading Reindeer is a longstanding program facilitated by the Library. We’re hoping that the community will continue to support the meaningful goals of this program. One of the key strands of the Library’s mission is to promote a love of literacy. By providing a low-cost alternative for families who may not be able to make it into the Library, we can still play a small part in fostering that love.”

How can you help?

To continue meeting the goal of Reading Reindeer, both monetary donations and new children’s book are needed. Donors are encouraged to make checks payable to Reading Reindeer and mail to the Shelby County Public Library (309 Eighth Street, Shelbyville, Kentucky, 40065) by Saturday, December 7, 2019. Acknowledgment cards will be sent if the gift is a memorial or honorarium. Cash donations may also be made at the Library. A collection box will be available by the Circulation Desk on the Main Floor.


Act of Kindness Program

This holiday season, the Library has set a goal to deliver holiday/greeting cards to residents of two local nursing homes—Crestview and the Masonic Homes of Kentucky Shelbyville Campus—and between the two homes, the library is in need of more than 250 cards to distribute. We want each resident of the homes to get a card from someone in the community. This project is open to all ages, from toddlers to adults.

The Library will ensure the cards are delivered to the appropriate nursing home.

How can I participate?

During the month of November, join the Library on Friday afternoons from 4 to 5 PM also in the Community Room. The Library will provide all materials.


Winter-Wear Drive

Why winter-wear?

Inspired by the actions of Paige Donovan—a Library employee who coordinated a coat drive with Joseph Lamb last winter—SCPL is again working with Lamb, the owner of the local restaurant 1021 Parks Place, to develop a winter wear drive for impoverished Shelby Countians.

“I am honored that the Library is continuing a worthy community service project I helped facilitate last year. I hope that an organization with such a large community presence is able to help even more people than I could by myself,” said Paige Donovan.

Lamb, when asked about the coat drive, said: “Our goal this year is to collect 400 coats and jackets. Last year, our goal was 350 coats and we fell a little short of that. This year, we’re hoping that between the fundraisers held at the restaurant and jacket donations at the Library, we can reach our goal.”

How can you help?

Donations will be accepted between November 1, 2019 and January 10, 2020 during regular business hours at the Library’s Circulation Desk and the restaurant, located at 1021 Main Street, Shelbyville. Donations of coats, gloves, and scarves for men, women, and children will be accepted. Donors are encouraged to ensure the winterwear is in good physical condition and free from contaminants.

 


Mason Warren

Written by Mason Warren.

Mason Warren is the Public Relations Coordinator at the Shelby County Public Library. He has worked at the Library since 2016. He is a graduate of Martha Layne Collins High School (2018) and is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education at the University of Louisville. Mason serves on the Board of Directors at the Shelby County Community Theatre and the charity Break Through For a Buddy. In his spare time, Mason enjoys photography and spending time with his two dogs, Baxter and Molly.

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