Uplift: Magic begins by opening a book

Sometimes all it takes to curl up with a good book is for somebody to give you one.

Christine Melnick could be that somebody; after all, over the years she has donated thousands of books to people and organizations.

Back in 2004, when the former NDP MLA was at a yard sale, she saw what would spark the creation of Share the Magic.

“It was in the area I represented and I saw these wonderful books on sale for good prices,” Melnick said recently.

“Some looked like they had never even been opened, but I knew, just a few blocks away in Manitoba Housing, there were families without any books at all.”

Melnick bought the books and delivered them to families who were thrilled to get them.

Flash forward 14 years and Share the Magic has tallied 428,000 book donations to children, daycares, schools and other organizations.

That would translate to tens of thousands of children and youth who received books to read.

All that sharing has garnered Melnick a national award for her efforts.

Next month, the Peter Gzowski Foundation for Literacy is giving Melnick the Peter Gzowski Award for her promotion of literacy through the organization she founded.

“When they called me I became quite emotional. My mother just loved Peter Gzowski so she would have been thrilled,” Melnick said.

“It is quite humbling actually.”

The Free Press first caught up with Melnick in 2009 in the newspaper’s monthly Philanthropy Page.

“To me, books are magic. There’s nothing like reading a good book,” she said at that time. “I don’t think computers can duplicate that exposure… this is a literate world and God help the child who can’t read.”

Today, Melnick recalls knowing she was on the right track when she was giving away books at an event in Point Douglas and Sel Burrows called her over to observe a group of guys sitting quietly and reading.

“They were just engrossed in books. A book can make an incredible and wonderful difference,” she said.

The organization, of which Melnick is executive director, officially became a charity with its own board of directors just this past December.

“I still go to garage sales. I also get books at rummage sales and when the Winnipeg Public Library put books out for sale,” she said.

“And sometimes when I come home there are books on my front stoop — I don’t even know who to thank, but I know that next year I want to donate even more books.”

Have some slightly used books or even new books you want to donate? You can help Share the Magic by calling Melnick at 204-257-0517 or email her at cmelnick@mymts.net.

Shelley Cook, Columnist

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