Can We Share 1,000 More Books With Kentucky Children?
On a typical day at the Bread for Life Community Food Pantry in Bardstown, families arrive looking for groceries, fresh produce, and a welcoming presence. Recently, something new has been part of that visit. Books!
Brightly colored picture books, familiar storybooks, and early readers now greet children who walk through the pantry doors with their parents and guardians. Alongside food for the week, families are finding another kind of support, one that invites curiosity and learning.
This effort is led by Sister Carol McKean, who volunteers regularly at Bread for Life. The initiative began last August at Nazareth, when employees were invited to bring children’s books on Tuesdays to be donated to the pantry. Over several months, those donations filled 14 large boxes.
“The response was generous,” Sister Carol said. “And it made an immediate difference.”
Those boxes made their way to Bread for Life, a ministry of St. Vincent de Paul Outreach Ministries that serves hundreds of families each year. Bread for Life is known for its choice-based model, which allows families to select the food and household items they need in a respectful setting. Sisters of Charity of Nazareth have long supported this work through volunteering, stocking shelves, assisting families, and sharing produce grown in the Nazareth garden.
Adding children’s books felt like a natural next step.
Now, when children visit the pantry, they are invited to choose a book of their own to take home.
“You can see their excitement,” Sister Carol said. “They find one they like and then realize it belongs to them.”
Sister Carol often reminds people that children’s items are meant to be enjoyed and shared. She recalls how her mother saved baby dolls for future granddaughters, only to welcome a house full of grandsons instead. Children’s books, she says, are the same. When shared now, they can be enjoyed right away by a child who needs them.
For some children, this is the first book they have ever owned. In a place focused on meeting basic needs, the presence of books sends a clear message. Children matter. Learning is for everyone.
Based on the number of boxes shared so far, Sister Carol estimates that well over 1,000 books have already reached families through the pantry. With those books now distributed, she is hoping to keep the effort going.
The Sisters of Charity of Nazareth are inviting the public to help collect 1,000 more children’s books.
Donations are especially needed for younger readers, including board books, picture books, and early readers. Gently used books are welcome.
Where to donate
Books may be dropped off at the O’Connell Hall front desk, in Nazareth, Kentucky, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please label donations with Sister Carol McKean’s name. Employees may also bring books to the same location.
Bread for Life remains a place where families are met with care and choice. Through time, practical support, and simple acts like sharing a book, the Sisters remain closely connected to this work.
If you have children’s books to pass along, consider donating. One book can bring joy to a child and open a door to new possibilities.
Why books matter
Reading supports early learning, language development, and curiosity in young children. For children visiting a food pantry, books may not be available at home. Owning a book builds confidence, supports school readiness, and encourages reading with caregivers. Books offer comfort and routine. When families receive food and a book together, children are reminded they matter. Access to books helps reduce early learning gaps and supports success in school and beyond.
Remember, books may be dropped off at the O’Connell Hall front desk, in Nazareth, Kentucky, Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.