Breathwaite mini-grant brings books to children.

The ACEI Elizabeth Breathwaite Mini-Grant of $500 I received made it possible for the Oregon ACEI Branch to put a number of new children's books into the hands and homes of many children of low-income/minority families. This was done through Snow-CAP Community Charities in Portland, Oregon.

Snow-CAP is a Portland area charity that supplies food for needy families and clothing for their children, ages 14 years and under. Snow-CAP is a nonprofit group that has a long history of being there for these families. At this time, they have only seven paid employees and rely on about 150 volunteers each month to provide services. In December, the number of volunteers increases to 250 in order to carry out additional Christmas projects. About 1,300 boxes are prepared for families. Some boxes are given to homes with only one person. However, most families are larger, including at least one family of 17. The number of boxes each family receives is determined by the size of the family.

The children whom Snow-CAP serves are from families living at the poverty level. Many of these children are the first in their family to learn English and to attend a school in America. Others come from families who have not had money to spend on books and do not have a background of visiting the public libraries.

This was the fourth year the Oregon ACEI branch contributed books to Snow-CAP. We also have been able to get some books into these homes by putting over 100 board books into the layettes given to new mothers during the year, as well as providing over 400 books to families who receive Christmas food boxes.

Oregon ACEI members believe that if we are able to put books into homes, the parents will be encouraged to read to their children and the children will begin to enjoy and treasure books. There is a public library next door to Snow-CAP. Whenever possible, Snow-CAP and OACEI cooperate with the children's librarian to encourage our families to attend activities. It is our hope that the families will begin to feel comfortable going to the library and take advantage of the many services available. The library has generously given us copies of a pamphlet they have available titled, Books and Babies and Brains! Oh My! It is available in both English and Spanish. These pamphlets are included with the board books in the layettes.

Oregon ACEI has some funds budgeted for this project, but we are unable to provide the amount of books needed to reach the large number of families Snow-CAP serves. This includes the families at Christmas. All of the grant money went to buying books. The photographs (above and at left) were taken during the three days in December 2006, when Oregon ACEI members helped children choose a book for their very own.

--Margaret Olson, Oregon ACEI