From a toy service to a book service 

Why Alcester Baptist Church, Warwickshire, has changed its Christmas toy service to nurture a love of reading that could enrich lives for years to come. By minister Alison Mackay

For many years, Alcester Baptist Church has invited people to bring toys to our Christmas Service for children and families facing hardship. This year, however, we have decided to do something different.

Inspired by the National Year of Reading, we are transforming our traditional Toy Service into a Book Service. We have chosen to embrace this initiative because, while a toy may bring joy for a season, a book can open new worlds, spark imagination, build confidence and nurture a lifelong love of learning.

This year, more than ever, we have become aware of growing concerns around both children's and adults' literacy. Our hope is that receiving a good book at Christmas might help foster a love of reading and encourage families to discover the pleasure and opportunity that books can bring.

We are delighted to be supported by our local independent bookshop, which has fully embraced the project and is offering a 10 per cent discount on all books purchased through them for the appeal.

The books we collect will be distributed to local children through The Salvation Army, working alongside Social Services to support families facing hardship. Our hope is simple: that every child might experience the gift of a story and the opportunities that reading can bring.

It may seem a small change, but we pray it will make a lasting difference. We also wonder whether other churches with long-established toy services might consider adopting a similar approach.

Together, we could place books into the hands of more children, helping to nurture a love of reading that could enrich lives for years to come.
 

Alison Mackay is minister of Alcester Baptist Church