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Books and Bread
A Literary Movable Feast
by Maureen King
The game is afoot in Waltham. In a generous case of whodunit, passersby are stopping, smiling then digging in at a creative bookmobile where everything is truly “On the house.”
In recent weeks, a neatly natural shingled shack, its side shelves looking like open arms cram-jammed full with free books has been a real eye catcher around the city. The custom builtbook bungalow has been seen at playgrounds, a shopping plaza, even a laundry mat. But the question remains, by who?
When a recent Facebook post provided a clue, a trail of technological breadcrumbs ended at the door of a Waltham father of three, Chris Young.A Counseling Director and assistant football coach at The Newton’s Fessenden School, Youngis a man on a mission. He’s hitched his Books and Bread custom built bookmobile to his black Ford Explorer and an idea conceived by a BronxSchool Principal.
While working towards his graduate degree at Boston University, Young was inspired by the visiting Bronx Principal taking his school from worst to first after making books readily available to lower income students. “In NYC lower income kids weren’t going to the library so they put books into grocery stores. The Books and Bread project is based on tackling thatopportunity to shorten the gap between higher and lower income students, getting books into their hands. With the pandemic, the gap is getting wider,” said Young.
Books and Bread was named when Young’s book program coupled with the Waltham Boys and Girls Club’s free summer lunch programdelivered to playgrounds. Young is married to the Club’s Director Erica Young, who named the project and helps out with drop off locations, along with the nuts and bolts of nonprofit management. “She’s involved whether she likes it or not,” laughs Young who crafted the creative bookmobile he pulls and parks when crates of his hauled books, “Went so fast they just disappeared,” at the playground lunches. “We like to go where the kids are.”
A seed planted by a Bronx Principal is now in full bloom as 5,000 books were borrowed in only four and a half months from Young’s Literary Movable Feast. Book selections are aimed at early readers, middle schools, high schools with some Adult offerings.
Young’s latest Books and Bread offshoot is a plan to place little lending libraries at student’s homes teaching a commitment to community service. The custom built little lending libraries can also be sponsored for $200.00.
Books and Bread accepts book contributions for pick up or drop off through their email booksandbread@gmail.com Cash, checks and Amazon gift cards for purchase of books are also welcome. Young is always interested in books written in Spanish that he reports,” Go pretty quick.” -30-
Maureen King