 For the past two years, the Community Service Committee of the West Essex Board of Realtors has run a very successful program called Library in a Box. Created to foster literacy by donating high quality children's books to needy area day care centers, Library in a Box has been a resounding success. The books are delivered in brightly painted boxes complete with a warm cotton reading rug by committee members, program patrons and authors at special reading events scheduled for each center. For 2004, we've decided to expand this program by offering Art in a Box in recognition of how important an early appreciation for the arts can be to a child's creative development. Our first box will be donated in late October 2005. Founding patrons are Kathy Bronander, Lynn Daviet and Carol Tangorra. Pictured above, the large six drawer, washable storage 'box' holds plenty of paper, child-safe scissors, crayons, washable glitter glue and 3d markers, modelling clay and fingerpaint kits. Books selected from the Metropolitan Museum Gift Shop include the ABC's of Art, Faith Ringold's 'Cassie's Word Quilt', My Colors -- Mis Colores, Red is a Dragon and the classic children's drawing story, Harold and the Purple Crayon. Contributions are tax deductible and are made through the West Essex Board of Realtors. Contact Jennifer Ley at 973 233-2335 for further information. |