By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI
I just think everybody should read, said Sandra Fornino of the Womens Club of Asbury Park. I read three books at a time in the summer.
Fornino, who lives in Neptune, came up with an idea four years ago to deliver new and gently used childrens books to area laundromats.
I was leaving work and I saw all these little kids running around the parking lot, she said. They had nothing to do while their parents did the laundry.
 Coaster Photo: Neptune resident Sandra Fornino gives out books to children at the Ocean Grove beachfront. Garrett and Thomas Eastin are pictured here with their mother, Lisa, all of Neptune. |
The club decided do their community service project for Make a Difference Day as a reading program for laundromats so kids could have something to do instead of running all over the place while their parents did the laundry.
The project, called Stories n Suds, was started four years ago.
Fornino asked the clubs members to begin donating books.
She estimates they have given out over 1,000 books since that time.
This year Fornino is also dropping off books at the Ocean Grove beachfront.
More than 200 books have been taken home in the past couple of weeks.
That program is called Stories n Sand.
It seems to have been well received, she said. I cant keep up with them everyone apparently has been taking them home.
The books from the club are labeled with a sticker that says, Free kids books; read and return or take home and enjoy.
Fornino has been making the labels on her home computer.
Fornino said club members get the books at garage sales, thrift stores or buy them new.
The laundromats where the books are located are; one in West Grove Square, Main Avenue in Ocean Grove, and two Busy Bs, one in Bradley Beach and one in the Gables Shopping Center.
I just delivered four bags of books, 25 books per bag to the laundromats, that will do them awhile, Fornino, who delivers the books herself, said. I have a bag in my car, I just did the laundromats.
On Memorial Day, one of the members asked her pick up three cartons of books.
Fornino and her husband, Michael, have two grown sons, one of whom is serving in Iraq.
I always read to them at night, she said. They had library cards as soon as they could write their name.
For more information or to join the Woman’s Club of Asbury Park call (732)775-0490.
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