I think one of the worst parts of this quarantine for me is that the libraries are closed. I normally don’t leave the house much anyway, but I do go to the library at least once a week. The libraries in Toledo have been closed for a few weeks now.
I spend a lot of time writing at the library. I also attend several writer’s groups there. I used to meet my SCORE mentor at the library as well as attend meetings for an activist group my husband and I are a part of. Not to mention my three-year-old daughter LOVES the library. She gets to read and pick out books to take home, and there are always toys and coloring pages there. A lot of times there are other kids she can play with at the library, too.
A lot of families struggle in Toledo. We have a high rate of poverty, so the library is such an important part of our community. It offers so many resources and the programs are always free. For many people, the library is their only access to the internet. It’s also where many children get free meals. It’s always a great place to take your family, and it’s a safe place for kids to hang out so they’re not on the streets.
I enjoy many of the library’s programs, but for many Toledoans, the library is a lifeline.
I understand we need to stay safe and protect each other, so the libraries should stay closed as long as needed. But when the libraries open again, I will be there to support them more than ever.
Does your library have a money donation box? Mine does. When they re-open I plan to drop some money in the box. I really miss the library, as well. It’s a great resource for families, as you noted.
Here’s a story to warm your heart.
You know about Little Free Libraries, neighborhood boxes with a “take a book, leave a book” philosophy? People have started stocking them with free food, creating Little Free Pantries.
As if one kindness wasn’t enough. According to the item, the idea seems to be catching on. The only downside is repeated use of that religious term “good samaritan”.
I think that is such a good idea! I have seen a couple of those around Toledo.
Kind of on a side note – I had a job a few years back where I had to drive people to food pantries, and unfortunately, many of the pantries in Toledo make people sit through prayer or even a sermon before they are given food. It used to make me so angry. It was just another example of religion preying on the vulnerable. I’m really glad that with the Little Food Pantries you can get what you need and no one is going to bother you.
Uh oh, I messed up the link. I left an exclamation mark in while editing (“<!a href").
https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/23/us/coronavirus-little-free-pantry-iyw-trnd/index.html