Reading is fun; it’s fundamental and it opens doors to the world.

There are dozens of reasons why children should read. But if a child does not enjoy reading, chances are that he or she will miss many wonderful opportunities for learning and enjoyment.

The Troy Kiwanis Club wants to do its part in encouraging children to read for the enjoyment of it and to pride in the ownership of books.

On Tuesday, the Troy Kiwanis Club presented a book box chock full of pleasure reading books to read or take home to the Charles Henderson Child Health Center. The books were placed at CHCHC in support of the child health center’s Reach Out and Read program.

Ed Averett, Troy Kiwanis Club secretary, said “Need a Book/Take a Book” box is for  children who visit CHCHC to read at the center or take home as their own.

“Members of the Troy Kiwanis Club collected books from members of the community and we have nearly a thousand new and like-new books,” Averett said. “Iris Byrd, who also works with Friends of the Library at the Troy Public Library, donated many books from her private collection. Employees at Townsend Building Supply and Kiwanis Club members here in Troy also donated a large number of books.”

Averett said the books will be replaced as needed and as often as needed.

“This is an ongoing project and hopes are that we will need to replace books often,” he said. “We want the children to want to take a book home. That is an indication that they are enjoying reading. The more they read, the better. If they need a book, we want them to take a book.”

Parker Reiss, club president, said the Kiwanis’ “Need a Book/ Take a Book” project is an effort to encourage children to read more and also to put books in the hands of children.

“There are many children who don’t have access to books at home and certainly not a book of their own,” Reiss said. “The Troy Kiwanis Club wants every child who wants a book to have one.”

The Need a Book/Take a Book box is, for all purposes, bottomless.

“We will keep it filled,” Reiss said.

Rosemary Hanson, CHCHC Reach Out and Read director, expressed appreciation to the Troy Kiwanis Club for its donation to CHCHC and to the children.

“The center has a program encouraging all children from infancy to school age to become acquainted with books and to learn to love them,” Hanson said. “We have a prescription for all children, ages six months to five years, who are being seen for well check appointments.”

In the examining room, the pediatrician gives an age-appropriate book to the child and counsels parents on how to use books to support their child’s health development.

Hanson said CHCHC is pleased to offer a program to their patients and their families that will have a lasting positive impact and will hopefully start them on a road to successful learning.

“The ‘Need a Book/Take a Book’ project is an extension of the CHCHC literacy program and extends the opportunity to read books and own books to all children who visit the child health center. The support of the Troy Kiwanis Club is greatly appreciated.”