The Victor Harbor Library is again calling on the community to donate books to children in need across the Fleurieu Peninsula.

As part of the ‘Give the Gift of Reading’ program, the local community is encouraged to donate a new children’s book - for children aged between 0 and18 years - to the Victor Harbor Library.

All donations will be forwarded to Grandcarers SA and the City of Victor Harbor’s Fleurieu Families team for distribution to children in need across the Fleurieu and southern Adelaide.

City of Victor Harbor Mayor Dr Moira Jenkins says she is continually impressed with the generosity and kindness of the local community during the festive season.

“Every year, this initiative receives an enormous response from our charitable community. If you are in a position where you can contribute, I encourage you to do so,” she says.

“In 2022, 253 books were donated and distributed to local families. That’s hundreds of families who received a book. I just know we can go above and beyond that number this time around.”

“Place a book under the Christmas tree in the Victor Harbor Library and know that you are helping to make Christmas a little more special for a deserving child.

“The benefits of reading cannot be underestimated. Literacy has been proven to build self-esteem, enable life-long learning and improve quality of life. 

“Reading to a child from an early age can also help to establish bonds between children and caregivers.

“As well as helping to develop literacy skills, books provide a chance for children to grow their imagination and escape into a different world. 

“This experience is something you can provide a local child as part of the ‘Give the Gift of Reading’ program,” Mayor Jenkins says.

Grandcarers SA have partnered with the Victor Harbor Library to deliver this program since 2017.

It is a volunteer based, not-for-profit organisation formed more than 20 years ago to provide support and advocacy to grandparents and other kinship carers who could be struggling with the emotional, financial and legal complexities of caring for their grandchildren.

Book donations will be accepted from today, Wednesday 1 November until 12pm on Saturday 2 December 2023. They should be newly purchased (not used) and do not need to be gift wrapped.