Celebrating 25 years of Investing in Children

Investing in Children is a not-for-profit in London, Ontario providing free programs focused on literacy, nutrition, music, wellness and leadership programming for children and youth. Since 1999, they have focused on providing inclusive opportunities for children and youth to thrive emotionally, physically, artistically, and academically. Statistics show that 1 in 4 children live in poverty in London Ontario. With the rise of household costs such as groceries, items such as books might be removed from families' budgets to buy the essentials.

Investing in Children recently received a grant from the Sifton Family Foundation to expand the Blue Boxes for Books program. This program provides free books and creates new literacy opportunities for children in London and the surrounding area. It is well known that literacy is the cornerstone to a child’s development and well-being, including school and future employment success.

Blue Boxes for Books features recycling boxes filled with age-appropriate books for children and youth placed in strategic locations throughout London, such as community resource centres. Children are encouraged to choose a new or gently used book from the box and they can read it while waiting, take the book home to bring back on their next visit, or keep it.

With the Sifton Family Foundation grant, Investing in Children was able to add new locations and replenish books regularly. Specifically, staff and volunteers counted, vetted, cleaned, and sorted almost eight thousand books that were donated. Deliveries were completed every six weeks. Book bins were filled across fifty locations in southwestern Ontario.