Community Partnerships are Vital During a Pandemic
KPL & Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes Partnered to Provide Free Books to Children
From Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes:
Everywhere they turn during these uncertain times, parents served by Kalamazoo Loaves & Fishes are confronted with reasons to stay up at night worrying – how will they make ends meet, how can they keep their families safe from infection, where and when will their next meal be…the list goes on and on and on.
Providing food to families in need is our primary mission, but over the past few months, we’ve been able to do so much more. By partnering with the Kalamazoo Public Library, we’ve been able to distribute books to kids, too! Hearing the words of appreciation from moms and dads who were happy to know books were an option is incredible, but seeing the excitement in a child’s eyes is an electric jolt of optimism and energy.
From the middle school-aged brothers who were excited to learn more about American history to the 1st grader who was excited to learn about jungle habitats or even a teenager who was thrilled to receive a book that was new and relevant and hers to keep. These books have provided a glimmer of hope during a chaotic time and we’re honored to be able to fill cupboards and minds.
From Kalamazoo Public Library:
When Kalamazoo Public Library’s buildings closed we quickly had to pivot our planning and continue to find ways to access our community. We looked to places like Loaves and Fishes that were open and providing much-needed services to our community. More than 1500 books were provided to school-age children during April, May, and June. We all know that learning during COVID-19 has looked different and access to materials and technology has become crucial. Providing print books during this time has been an exciting new partnership and one that we hope to continue and grow into our post-pandemic planning.