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Children's Library Build in D.C.

Join other DC-area women on Friday, January 27th for a special volunteer opportunity with the National Center for Children and Families (NCCF).

Together, we will bring to life a beautiful, warm, and inspiring children’s library for the shelter’s youngest residents. We will help build, furnish, decorate, and stock the shelves of this new library. This will be a safe place where the children living at the shelter can relax, escape into a book, and keep up with homework.

Where: National Center for Children and Families library in D.C. (location to be provided upon positive registration)

When: Friday, January 27th from 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. ET

Who: Women who are a part of  – or interested in being a part of – JWI's D.C. Women's Impact Network (WIN) or D.C.'s Young Women's Impact Network (YWIN).

What to wear: Please dress casually and come prepared to move furniture.

What to bring: Please bring a book, toy, or game to contribute to the library. All items must be NEW.

Contact: For questions, email Lisa Register at lregister@jwi.org.

Space is extremely limited. Please register early.

This event is a part of our National Library Initiative (NLI). This library is generously supported by the Wagner-Braunsberg Family Foundation.


Residents of shelters where we have built children’s libraries in the past share the impact of these spaces:

“When we left our home we were not able to bring our books. The children’s library has been a blessing to us. It offers an opportunity for me and my children to escape to a world of imagination during such a stressful time in our lives.” — Cindy, shelter resident

“I like the library because it has comfortable chairs and I can read and relax at the same time.” — Thomas, age 8, at a JWI children’s library in Arizona

“When you live in a violent situation, that becomes your normal. With routines and rituals such as reading and learning together, JWI is redefining what’s normal to a child.” — Beth, shelter director