Free wine, good music, and hyper-local activism? Sign me up!!

We will be opening up for 2 hours on Monday, during which time people can come and buy books to donate to Small Things Matter, a local Takoma Park charity, for local family distribution. Small Things Matter is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded on the idea that small acts of kindness can make a big impact on someone’s life.  Their motto is “kid-powered kindness for those in need!”

In particular, Small Things Matter is committed to educating and empowering youth with their literacy program that encourages helps youth develop a love of reading from an early age which sets the foundation for later academic success. Small Things Matters’ Books for Bedtime Program provides brand new books to underserved children and their families to give the children a strong educational foundation by encouraging them to read a little every day, as well as encouraging family time by having families reading together. Studies have shown children that live with books in their home perform better in school, but unfortunately for those struggling to make ends meet, books are a luxury that are often overlooked, and even trips to the library can be a struggle for these families. Giving children access to free books allows them to build their own private library that they can revisit at their leisure and transforms them from being book readers to book owners. We believe that the pride that comes from choosing from new books allows these children and their families to have a positive experience together and that this encourages a lifelong love of reading and learning.

Distributing books when the families gather for food distributions gives the children the chance to see their peers getting books at the same time. This encourages a sense of shared experience and helps build a community of readers. Having books in the home also makes it possible for parents to encourage their children to read, and by reading together builds stronger families.