Vermilion Lions Club Helps Give The Gift Of Reading

From left, Tyson Tschauner, Amanda Stremick and Peter Clark. Photo Sonya Lee

The Vermilion Lions Club has once again demonstrated its commitment to supporting the local community and literacy. On November 4, Lions Club members Peter Clark and Tyson Tschauner presented a $700 cheque to Amanda Stremick, Programs Coordinator for the Vermilion Public Library. Of the donation, $300 will go toward the library’s Books for Babies program, with the remaining funds supporting other library initiatives.

The donation followed a presentation on October 14, when Vermilion Public Library Manager Stuart Pauls met with the Lions Club to introduce the Books for Babies program and ask for their support. The program aims to give new parents a meaningful start to their child’s learning journey.

Lions Club President Devin Lawrence expressed the club’s enthusiasm for the initiative, saying, “Our club applauds the Library for this program. We are pleased to provide funding so families can access the library, have books in their home, and have an inventory of many resources available to families in our community.”

Stremick shared her gratitude for the support, saying, “I appreciate the community stepping up. It’s great to see.” While Tschauner added, “We are all stronger when we work together.”

The Books for Babies program is designed to encourage early literacy and family engagement. Each kit is distributed through the Public Health Nurses Office in the Vermilion Provincial Building when babies receive their 18-month booster shots. The kit includes two books, reading tips, and a free family library membership. Parents can redeem the included gift certificate at the library or register online to receive their library card.

The library emphasizes that it is never too early to start reading to children. Reading helps infants recognize the comforting sound of a parent’s voice and supports early language development during the crucial first three years of life.

The Vermilion Public Library encourages families who have received a Books for Babies kit to share their experiences, photos, or comments on social media (@vermilionpl on Facebook or @vermilionlibrary on Instagram), or by contacting Programs Coordinator Amanda Stremick at astremick@vplibrary.ca.

The library also acknowledges the Vermilion & Area Early Learning Childhood Coalition for previously helping to fund the kits, noting that they are still using bookbags supplied by the group. Other contributors to the Books for Babies program include Midwest Family Connections, L.A. Health – Nurse Practitioner Clinic, and community members who donated in memory of Shirley Roy.

Those interested in supporting early literacy in Vermilion can help purchase new books for the Books for Babies program by visiting www.vplibrary.ca/sponsor. Donations help ensure that every child in the community has access to the joy and lifelong benefits of reading.