Books for families in Christchurch, NZ How you can help

From Zoe Toft at Playing by The Book (please spread the word)

Many families in Christchurch have had their homes destroyed and badly damaged. They’ve lost everything, including books. I know I’m preaching to the converted when I talk about the comfort and solace books can provide, especially in times of stress and despair, but now I want to ask you if you would like to take part in something that will help provide exactly this: An opportunity for you to personally help families affected by the earthquake.

Bronwyn and I are gathering a list of families who are in need of books. Many of these families are homeschoolers, though certainly not all. What we are asking is for you to reach out to these families and send them a book or two. A new children’s book, a book you and your family love, a book that the family you’re paired with might enjoy, might make them laugh, might make them feel that people, you, are thinking of them and supporting them.

So, if you would like to reach out to a Christchurch family please get in touch and Bronwyn and I will team you up with a partner family. Send me an email (zoe  dot  toft  at  kuvik  dot net) saying you’d like to help and we’ll take it from there.

Some practical nuts and bolts:

Normal postal services are not yet working in Christchurch, though some courier services are. Many families have now moved out of Christchurch and so the address you will be sent may not be a Christchurch address. Indeed, we do not wish to stretch further the services that are up and running. If you are teamed up with a family still living in Christchuch, please use a courier to send your book and let me know which courier service you use so I can inform the family you’ve been teamed up with (they may need to go to the courier depot at the airport to collect your parcel).

Please only send NEW children’s and YA books. We will let you know the ages of the children in the family you are paired up with in order to help you select books that they will enjoy.

Please do not expect the family you are paired up with to reply to you. They may well write back, but this is not to be expected. This scheme is not about setting up penpals, but rather helping families at a time of need.

Thanks everyone.