I love long weekends. The extra day off makes it so much easier for me to feel like I’ve had a “balanced” weekend – with the perfect family-time-to-housework ratio (which I find, in general, very hard to achieve). There are also usually many family events to choose from. My favorite activities are the ones that allow us to have fun and allow me to teach my boys just a little about what it means to give. That’s exactly what I plan to do this weekend by attending my first bookraising event for Project Cameron’s Story.
Project Cameron’s Story is phenomenal organization I had the great fortune to learn about recently in my internet travels. Their goal: to place new, quality children’s books in the hands of every parent of a premature baby upon admission to the NICUs at several local hospitals, in an effort to support parent-child bonding. Parents of NICU babies are often facing a unique set of circumstances that can leave them feeling uncertain, scared, fearful, and helpless. By presenting these parents with books – a simple tool for connecting with their baby – Project Cameron’s Story is offering much more than stories; it’s offering those parents something they can do – in the midst of a sea of things that they can’t.
This weekend marks the beginning of their annual bookraising event, taking place at area bookstores and restaurants and focused on collecting new books. Barnes & Noble stores in Niskayuna, Saratoga, and Colonie will all be holding events this weekend as part of the “bookraiser.” Most events start with a story time and include various arts and crafts, a scavenger hunt, and a visit by Elmo. All events are free and open to the public. A few highlights:
Saturday, February 16, 10-2, at the Saratoga Barnes and Noble
Monday, February 18, 10-2, at the Niskayuna Barnes and Noble
Monday, February 18, 3-6, at the Colonie Barnes and Noble
As an avid reader, my obvious connection to an organization like this is in the books. But I think Project Cameron’s Story – at its very core – speaks to me more as a parent than as a reader. Because although I don’t know first-hand what it’s like to have a baby in a NICU, I think every new parent, at some point, questions themselves and their ability to do what’s right. Now consider those worries and imagine how they might be magnified for a parent faced with their child’s medical complications. This organization is committed to empowering these parents with the knowledge and self-confidence that they can be exactly what their baby needs – regardless of how intimidating the environment may seem.
I can’t wait to be a part of it. I plan to take my boys for the story time, and perhaps we’ll do a craft or get his picture taken with Elmo. But most importantly, I’ll let him pick out a book to give to a new parent and their baby. Because it’s never too early to start teaching your children the value of giving to others.
For more information on the various bookraising events in our area, including other participating bookstores and the efforts of several local Applebee’s restaurants, visit: www.ProjectCameronsStory.com.