Church pays $10,000 gift forward to buy children new books

Princ Edward County children will have more worlds to discover through books thanks to a donation to County Kids Read, from St. Mary Magdalene Church.

Thursday, wardens of the church and rector Charles Morris presented $10,000 to County Kids Read volunteers during a class visit of Grade 2 and 3 students from PECI.

Morris said the wardens decided to share part of a significant gift to the church from a congregation member designated to be used for outreach programs.

“County Kids Read is so close to our hearts,” said Morris, noting the church’s long-time connection with the 10-year-old program. The church renovated a room in the Parish Hall specifically for use by the County Kids Read program.

Morris asked the children if they’d ever been to a baptism and likened the donation as an extention to promises made.

“At a baptism we make some promises – not just to the people being baptised, but the whole community. We promise that we’re going to do our best to love our neighbours as ourselves; meaning we’re going to do our best to care about people and make sure they’re going to have the same kinds of opportunities that we’ve had, and we do our best to promote justice and dignity for everybody,” he said “We figure one of the most important things to do that, is to help people read and that’s why we’re so glad we’re able to support this program.”

Anne Preston, of County Kids Read, thanked the church for its support over the years and said the money will be used to buy more new books.

“They are the most beautiful, cherished books put on the shelf lovingly by County Kids Read,” said teacher Julie Hymus, who noted this was the third or fourth visit with her Grade 2/3 class.

County Kids Read distributes about 500 new books every month at class visits and visits from other organizations such as the HUB Child and Family Centre, and Community Living. It also delivers books through 17 partner organizations, including the County’s food banks, the library, the Recreation Outreach Centre, and Children’s Aid and Child Care Services.