WINNIPEG–As the pandemic continues to disrupt schooling for children across Manitoba, Share the Magic Book Program in partnership with the Rotary Club of Winnipeg is gearing up to distribute 9,000 books to children in four northern Indigenous communities.

"It is with great pleasure that Share the Magic is sending so many books to northern and remote First Nations communities,” said Share the Magic President John Helliar. “We sincerely hope that many more thousands can be sent in the years to come, and that they contribute to ever growing literacy levels."

Books will be sent to Indigenous communities in Lac Brochet (1,560), Red Sucker Lake (1,608), MantoSipi (1,483), and Wasagamack (3,271, plus another 1,000 for Wasagamack School). There are enoughbooks to provide everyone between the ages of five and 18 with five books. Another 100 books will bedistributed to adults in each community.

“This pandemic has been especially hard on children who are struggling through periods of isolationand lack of access to educational materials,” said Christine Melnick, executive director of Share theMagic. “Not only are children affected emotionally by the pandemic, many are also falling behind incritical reading skills. These books will help them continue to discover the joy of reading.”

"Chris and Share the Magic continue to offer an invaluable service when they help us send large
quantities of books to our remote northern Indigenous partner communities,” said Strini Reddy,
organizer of the Rotary Club of Winnipeg’s Honouring Indigenous Peoples program. “The children,youth and their families really appreciate receiving books that they can call their own."

Share the Magic will also send 32,000 pieces of Hey Clay to children in these communities. The HeyClay was generously donated by Red River Co-op food stores.

The North West Company will transport the books and Hey Clay to the four northern communities overwinter roads as weather and pandemic restrictions permit.

“We are very pleased to support Share the Magic and the Rotary Club of Winnipeg in their efforts toprovide books to children and families in remote northern communities,” said Andrew Thunder,
director of corporate responsibility for The North West Company.

BACKGROUNDER 
 

• “Literacy is a fundamental human right and the foundation for lifelong learning. It is fully essential to social and human development in its ability to transform lives. For individuals, families, and societies alike, it is an instrument of empowerment to improve one’s health, one’s income, and one’s relationship with the world.” – Opening statement on the United Nations, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization webpage, unesco.org

• Share the Magic Book Program is a registered Manitoba charity that collects and distributes new and gently used books for individuals, community groups and communities that do not have many books. • To date, Share the Magic has given away more than 640,000 books at an estimated value of more than $4.2 million. • In 2019-2020, Share the Magic sent 11,500 books to northern and remote First Nations communities, taking a pause in 2021 due to COVID-19.

• The total number of books sent to northern and remote First Nations communities, including those being sent in 2022, is 20,500.

• Since 2017, Share the Magic has established partnerships with the inner-city schools of Niji Mahkwa, King Edward, Strathcona, Gonzaga Middle School, R. B. Russell and Technical Vocational High School through which, even during the past few years, it has been able to distribute roughly 27,000 books annually.

• If you know of communities that would benefit from receiving books or would like to donate books or lend financial support to Share the Magic, please contact Christine Melnick [email protected] 

• Annual reports of the Share the Magic Book Program are available upon request from Christine Melnick. • Follow Share the Magic on Facebook.