Somerville Book and Toy Exchange - January 27, 2001 to benefit the Somerville Family Network

PRESS RELEASE January 29, 2001

A steady stream of families took advantage of the PARENTS FORUM BOOK AND TOY EXCHANGE held Saturday, January 27, 2001 at the Somerville Central Library. This free event, held to benefit the Somerville Family Network, received generous support from the Arlington Center for the Arts and Johnnie's Foodmaster. "It was wonderful to have the gift certificates donated by the Arts Center and by Johnnie's to give out as door prizes. Also, everyone who attended enjoyed the donuts and muffins donated by Dunkin' Donuts near Lechmere Station," said Somerville PARENTS FORUM coordinator Sue Silva.

Mayor Dorothy Kelly-Gay attended and was pleased to notice the coordination with city agencies and other nonprofits, as PARENTS FORUM has, in the past, also cooperated with the Somerville Department of Human Services, Project Soup in Somerville as well as the Hildebrand Family Center and the Cambridge Public Library. PARENTS FORUM board members Nina Breygin, Lee Ann Frigulietti and Marsha Orent, along with co-founder and Somerville resident Christine Bates were also there to lend a hand.

"There was really no language barrier," PARENTS FORUM founder Eve Sullivan said after leading art activities for children while parents got acquainted. "Sue Silva led a mini-workshop during the last half-hour of the event, with a Spanish-speaking couple and a Portuguese-speaking couple, along with native speakers of English, discussing their own and their families' positive experiences."

Marcus and Denise Aguiar from Brazil -- he is a visiting scientist at MIT and she works as a family liaison at Lincoln Park School where their son is a fourth grader -- said the Book and Toy Exchange was both fun and interesting. "We learned about the work of PARENTS FORUM and had a taste of what their workshops are about, all in a very friendly, comfortable atmosphere," Marcus said.

PARENTS FORUM workshops are adaptable to school, clinic, workplace and other settings. The next Book and Toy Exchange will be held in Cambridge on May 12th. For information or to volunteer to help, contact Sue Silva at 617 - 666-2729 or Eve Sullivan 617 - 253-7182

Where We Have Been

To the Top