Realtors go daycare-to-daycare for literacy

 As Reported by the Montclair Times Wednesday, March 10, 2004

By TERESA AKERSTEN

    The West Essex Board of Realtors is helping to tackle illiteracy, one box of books at a time. Now in its second year, the Board's Library in a Box delivered cartons of books last month to three local daycare centers, ABC Daycare in Montclair, Sunshine Daycare in Belleville, and First Class Learning Center in Bloomfield. Each daycare center received 30 books in a hand-decorated box that could double as a bookshelf. The titles range from classics to contemporary works, and include fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. In addition to the books, the cen-ters received reading rugs on which children can gather around for story time.

    Library in a Box was founded by Roberta Baldwin, who works at ReMax Village Square Realty in Montclair and is chairman of the West Essex Board of Realtors' Community Service Committee. Before she got into real estate, Baldwin worked as a journalist and wrote children's books. "Getting books to kids. I think that's the most important thing we could do," Baldwin said. Both the daycare centers and the books are chosen by the board, according to Baldwin, who said the committee selects recipients based on "areas where we perceive to be a need."

    Last year, Library in a Box presented books and rugs to 16 daycare centers in Essex County, and those centers received follow-up packages of about eight classics this year.

    On book delivery day, members of the community, such as Nancy Gentile of Schweppe Burgdorff ERA in Montclair, and WPLJ radio personality and Montclair resident Patty Steel, act as guest storytellers. Jennifer Ley, also of Schweppe Burgdorff ERA, read "Corduroy" by Don Freeman to youngsters at First Class Learning Center in Bloomfield.

    "Reading was huge for me when I was a kid," said Ley, who, with her husband, sponsored one of the boxes by financing the $500 cost of the books, box, and rug.

    Ley said a spin-off project is in the works called Art in a Box, which in addition to a collection of books on art history geared toward 5-year-olds, would include toys that help kids think visually.


Contributions are tax deductible and can be made through the West Essex Board of Realtors. Contact Jennifer Ley at 973 233-2335 for further information.