Turning the Page Children’s Libraries is an on-going project of the National Council of Jewish Women of Canada, Toronto.
Elayne Shuster and Susan Austin are the co-chairs of a group of volunteers who donate their time, creativity, resourcefulness, skills and connections, to turn drab and uninviting rooms into soothing sanctuaries. “Our goal is to promote the love of reading by providing a space where moms and their children can share some quality time,” says Elayne.
Each member of the team pitches in, stepping up as materials, assistance with labour, or, in the case of the Yorktown project, funding, is required. Eva Karpati, a former teacher, arranged for a grant from the retired Teachers Association and $2,000 was put toward the Yorktown children’s library! The funds went toward a TV, a computer, and additional books. A group of the retired teachers also donated hand-sewn cozy pillows that they created. Each pillow has a pocket to hold a favourite book! The Yorktown library was the first project that professional artist, Layla Crust, worked on with the Turning the Page team. “We are grateful to Layla for donating her talent. She created a serene and peaceful atmosphere with blue skies and fluffy clouds. The moms and children are happy with the transformation the Turning the Page team have made to, what was formerly, an unwelcoming space,” says Fatima Valentim.
Elayne arranges for the paint to be donated from the local Home Depot for each project. For Yorktown’s library, she reached out to a friend, Paul Arlin, owner of Jiffy on Demand Home Maintenance Services who promptly agreed to arrange to donate the labour to paint the entire room before Layla painted the mural. Marlene Nesbitt, a designer, and Norma Lowe-Kline, an interior decorator, both generously contributed their expertise. It was all-hands-on deck throughout the five phases of the project and Elaine Cooper, Barbara Held, Isabel Schnapp, Liz Wachtel, and Toby Zarnett, all contributed to usher the project to completion, from the time that the room was cleared, to the finishing touches.
Yorktown thanks Elayne and Susan and their team for creating an oasis for moms and children at Yorktown’s shelter!