Kingdom Kids Little Free Library project
Published 12:05 pm Wednesday, May 15, 2019
Pictured with the Drakes Branch Library are from left, Vivian Clark, Kendall George, Emmalyn Allen, Megan Allen, Kaylee George and Kaylinn Tucker.
Pictured is the Wylliesburg Library.
Pictured with the Phenix Library are, from left, Caden Parker, Landon Parker, Brayden Sadler; standing, Kaydan Tucker and Cale Schrekengost.
Pictured is the Charlotte Court House Library.
Pictured with the Keysville Library are from left, standing, Karianne Tucker, Emma Tucker, Glenna Vereen; kneeling, Bradie Allen, Jackson Dunn and Avry Whirley.
Recently Little Free Libraries planned, constructed, sanded and painted by the Kingdom Kids of Ash Camp Baptist Church that were installed throughout the area. The nationally registered libraries are located in Keysville, War Memorial; Drakes Branch, Farmers’ Market; Charlotte Court House, Bank of Charlotte County; Phenix, Municipal Building; Saxe, Post Office and Wylliesburg, Tastee-Freez.
Alpha Delta Teacher Sorority and Charlotte County Retired Teachers Association donated funds and numerous books to the project. Ash Camp members also donated hundreds of books and continue to be a collection site for used adult and children books to help replenish the libraries. Those who helped with the yearlong project included Sandy Flynn, Kingdom Kids Coordinator; Austin Agee, Ted Smith, head carpenter; Katy Clarke, Danny Flynn, Ed and Kay Ashley, Augusta Carwile, Gerry Pettus, Jay George, Alison Freeland, Jeanie Stallings, Ross Gallion and David and Kay Lucado.
Little Free Library is a nonprofit organization that inspires a love of reading, builds community, and sparks creativity by fostering neighborhood book exchanges around the world. More than 75,000 public book exchanges are registered with the organization and branded as Little Free Libraries, and six of those now have homes right here in Charlotte County. Through Little Free Libraries, millions of books are exchanged each year, profoundly increasing access to books for readers of all ages and backgrounds. The idea is “Take a book, share a book,” but even if you don’t have a book to share, feel free to take books home to enjoy. One of the most successful ways to improve the reading achievement of children is to increase their access to books, especially at home.
The weekly Kingdom Kids program reaches out each month to the community with service projects to share their love with others as “doers of the word.” When the kids are working in the community, they are often asked why they give up their afternoons to help others, and their answer is always, “because we love Jesus and He loves you.” Kingdom Kids have given back to their communities in bell ringing for the Salvation Army, making blessing bags for Madeline’s House and Charlotte County Assistance Programs, yard work for elderly, Habitat for Humanity home beautification, car wash proceeds donated to mission projects, roadside trash clean up and a witness walk “Share the love of Jesus” project with gifts of flower seed packets, flashlights and bubbles, all with inspirational messages to patrons of local businesses and friends throughout the town. The Kingdom Kids program for kindergarten – middle school consists of a weekly Bible study/story and one week each month on missions, music, crafts and community projects.
