Books! Books! Books!

Christopher Lucious, next door neighbor, cuts the ribbon for the Little Free Library, in front of  the CNCM house

Over 80 children and adults from the Collinwood neighborhood gathered on the front lawn of the Collinwood Neighborhood Catholic Ministries, 15706 St. Clair Ave. on Thursday, Aug 7 from 4-6 pm  for the ribbon cutting and grand opening of “A Little Free Library.[LFL]”

Next door neighbor, Christopher  Lucious,  did the honor of cutting the ribbon on the door of the little house of books.

The  mission  of the Little Library Movement is to promote literacy and the love of reading by building free book exchanges worldwide. “Take a book, return a book” Is the slogan!

Locally, the Cleveland  Literacy Cooperative has released its Top 10 List of Things We All Can Do to Improve Literacy in Greater Cleveland, and  the Little Free Library movement ranks at No. 8!

Executive Director of CNCM, Sr. Mary Ellen Brinovec, OSU, expressed  gratitude for everyone’s wonderful presence  and all the work that brought our LFL to life. “Everyone had a fabulous time,”  she said.  Free pizza, bottled water, and juice pouches  were available to all.  In addition, there was a gift basket with toiletry items for the adults and face masks to color for the children.

The Little Free Library was made by the Amish and is a stained, waterproof natural wood.  Thanks to the Jennifer Fund, run by Aggie Hoskins,  the CNCM was able to purchase the LFL.  Children and adult books are available and will be replenished from various donors including  the Collinwood County Libraries.

New signs welcoming the neighbors were created by the local Job Corps.

In other programming news from CNCM, the Family Carnival for Christ scheduled for fall will be rescheduled in the spring.

For further information on the classes and programs offered by the CNCM, contact Sr. Mary Ellen at 216- 481-8182.