The smell of coffee and the pitter patter of little feet fill the gymnasium at the Military Family Resource CentreB次元官网网址檚 Pacific Activity Centre.

Excitement begins to build as more and more toddlers fill the space in Colwood. This monthB次元官网网址檚 Books for Breakfast event has drawn about 100 children and their parents or guardians and was to be followed by another group of roughly the same size for Literacy for Lunch.

Twenty-one-month old twins Kaelyn and Costin Campbell, here with their mom, Pamela, are experiencing Books for Breakfast for the first time. The siblings, their heads a mass of blonde ringlets, bounce around the room taking in the excitement B次元官网网址� with mom running after them.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 overwhelming,B次元官网网址� Campbell says, while admitting sheB次元官网网址檚 eager to return with her kids when the program starts back up in the fall. B次元官网网址淟ook how happy everyone is,B次元官网网址� she adds, pointing around the room. While there are a few whines, the sounds of crying toddlers is noticeable absent.

The new Langford resident was excited when a friend invited her to attend this family focused event. Campbell notes that itB次元官网网址檚 hard to find resources like this, especially one that offers a free book at the end of each session. B次元官网网址淭hey really gauge their audience; look at all the activities.B次元官网网址�

With sometimes more than 200 children coming through the doors, the program has grown considerably from its humble beginnings.

B次元官网网址淚t actually started as a program for kids with special needs,B次元官网网址� says program co-ordinator Darlene Manthorpe. It was originally housed in a classroom at John Stubbs elementary and had about 20 participants. At that time, she says, it was only supposed to run for five months. By the second year, the program was open to all children up to the age of six.

B次元官网网址淭he idea was to get people comfortable in a school,B次元官网网址� she says, noting that some of the original participants werenB次元官网网址檛 comfortable in a more institutionalized setting such as a classroom.

Shantael Sleight, Your Literacy Connection West Shore outreach co-ordinator, explains further that B次元官网网址渢he idea was to bridge families going from preschool into the school system.B次元官网网址�

The program, which now caters to two groups B次元官网网址� one in the morning, another in the afternoon B次元官网网址� offers snacks (including Starbucks coffee donated by the Westshore Town Centre location) and followed by some singing and dancing and two stories which are read aloud to the group. Children are encouraged to interact however they wish, plus there are additional games and activities for them to partake in. After all the fun, children select a book of their own to take home, usually one of the two stories read to them.

But this program isnB次元官网网址檛 just about literacy.

Sleight says some pregnant women even phone asking if they can bring newborns to the program. B次元官网网址淔or them itB次元官网网址檚 more about the social connection,B次元官网网址� she says, adding some families come from as far as Sidney.

A number of organizations and community groups have also joined the fun, offering information on everything from dental care to resources such as the Greater Victoria Public Library.

The program has snowballed into what it is today, mostly on its own. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 word of mouth, we donB次元官网网址檛 market it,B次元官网网址� Sleight says.

The only place information is posted is on Your Literacy ConnectionB次元官网网址檚 website (sookewestshoreliteracy.ca).

Sleight plays a large role in helping the program grow, Manthorpe says. B次元官网网址淪he does all of that so I donB次元官网网址檛 have to worry about getting the word out B次元官网网址� West Shore Literacy is another huge supporter,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淎ll of us in this program are volunteers B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 such a great community.B次元官网网址�

That said, the program does rely on the generosity of others. With stable funding coming from the Sooke School District every year, Manthorpe says donations such as the $8,000 contributed by the Oak Bay Kiwanis Club can be stretched and made to go a lot further.

B次元官网网址�(The) MFRC has been a huge support,B次元官网网址� she says, noting the organization provides the gym free for the program. B次元官网网址淲ithout this space we wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be able to put this on.B次元官网网址�

ItB次元官网网址檚 a lot of space compared to the little classroom that once housed the program.

katie@goldstreamgazette.com