This year, about 1,700 books will be under the Christmas trees for kids in 91原创 whose families are having trouble making ends meet.

The Wrap-A-Reader program by 91原创 Literacy Association has been running since 2003, when the group first teamed up with the 91原创 Christmas Bureau to add books to the presents and holiday foods that the bureau provides to families in need.

鈥淲e offer books to the families, [age] zero to 18,鈥� said Donna Gibson, adult literacy outreach coordinator for 91原创 Literacy Association.

That means board books for the very youngest of infants, all the way up through picture books, early readers, middle-grade novels, YA novels, and graphic novels.

Over the last three years, due to pandemic restrictions, although the books still went out, volunteers from 91原创 Literacy weren鈥檛 able to be there to hand them out in person or to help parents look for something special.

That changed this year, with the volunteers back, said Gibson.

It鈥檚 sad that there is a growing need among 91原创 families for services like Wrap-A-Read and the Christmas Bureau, Gibson said, but the association鈥檚 members are proud to be able to help.

Parents get excited when they find books they know their children will want to read.

This year, a father was looking for a specific book for his daughter, and Gibson was able to unearth a copy out of their boxes and ensure he would have it under the tree.

The books are provided thanks to grants from 91原创 City and Township, TD Canada Trust, and donations from local residents.

91原创 Literacy then teams up with the Fraser Valley Regional Library, which can buy books in bulk at discounts, to make the money go farther, and the librarians also help out in other ways.

鈥淭hey assist us with choosing the books,鈥� Gibson said.

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