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 Popular program for newborns will continue thanks to $75,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation
(Aylmer, Ontario) – A popular program that delivers book bags and parenting information to families of newborn babies in St. Thomas and Elgin County will continue to 2014, thanks to a $75,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF).
MPP for Elgin-Middlesex-London, the Honorable Steve Peters, joined OTF representative Ann Lapchinski in congratulating Elgin County Library at a special funding announcement held at the Aylmer Library.
"I am pleased that the Ontario Trillium Foundation can assist the Elgin County Library in delivering this worthy endeavour," said Steve Peters, MPP of Elgin-Middlesex-London. "The Growing with Books program will promote literacy and help instill a love of reading in young families."
Launched in 2003, Growing with Books kits are offered to families with newborn children when they receive a visit from a public health nurse. Kits are also available from all 10 branches of Elgin County Library, as well as St. Thomas Public Library. The kit includes a durable book bag that is made in Canada, a board book for parents to read with their babies, and information for parents that promotes library resources and services that are available free of charge to help them learn more about parenting and early literacy.
“It is important for families to know what the library has to offer, both in terms of resources and storytime programs,” said Warden Bonnie Vowel on behalf of Elgin County Library. “We are thankful for the Ontario Trillium Foundation’s commitment to early literacy in our community.”
MPP Steve Peters also announced provincial funding to support three additional library programs. Tune-In is a project under development that will see Elgin County Library produce a regular radio show on local Mennonite radio station 105.9 FM DE BRIGJ. The province is also funding a joint project between public libraries in St. Thomas, Elgin and Oxford that will create more web services for library users. In addition, funds are also available for the continued promotion of Service Ontario, an excellent resource for residents and business owners that provides online access to a number of provincial government services. More information is available at your local library.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation is an agency of the Government of Ontario. The Foundation allocates grants to eligible charitable and not-for-profit organizations in the arts and culture, environment, human and social services and sports and recreation sectors.
Elgin County Library would like to express its sincere thanks to The Ontario Trillium Foundation for their generous support.
Elgin County Warden Bonnie Vowel, St. Thomas Public Library CEO Rudi Denham, Elgin County Director of Community & Cultural Services Brian Masschaele, Ontario Trillium Foundation volunteer Ann Lapchinski, April Wilson with son Liam, Elfrieda Rempel with son Thomas, Elgin-Middlesex-London MPP Steve Peters
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