By Fr. Christopher Kubat
Those who receive and read our quarterly newsletter from St. Gianna’s Women’s Homes might remember learning something you already know: Most children, if not all, love to have books read to them. This is a great way for parents, older siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins and others to bond with little children while the children learn and acquire reading and comprehension skills.
St. Gianna’s, if you do not know, is a 24 apartment home for women who are escaping abortion and domestic violence, run by the Marian Sisters of the Diocese of Lincoln. They themselves have had little children knock on their doors, wanting them to play and read books to them.
Nick McConnell, a young man 17 years of age, recently decided to do something for the children at St. Gianna’s for his Eagle Scout project. He decided to make a three-shelf bookcase and collect children’s books for the little ones at St. Gianna’s. 
After coming up with the idea, he talked with Sister Bernadette at St. Gianna’s, who loved the idea. She measured the place where the bookshelf would go and Nick was off to the races. He did the majority of the work, with a little help from his grandfather Mick McConnell.
I was fortunate to have been at the office when Nick dropped off the beautiful bookcase. He, his parents Mary and Keith and sister Jasey, and a few others collected 442 children’s books!
I asked him where this idea came from. He replied that he loved it when his mother and father read him stories. He wanted the children at St. Gianna’s to have the same opportunity. He also wanted to help them increase their literacy, for when this is accomplished, school is more fun and interesting. We all know that education is the pathway out of poverty.
I would like to thank Nick for coming up with this idea and for his hard work. He is truly young and restless- restless in the sense of wanting to stay busy in the vineyard of the Lord, loving God and his neighbor as himself. I also want to thank his parents (for good fruit does not fall far from a good tree), his siblings, grandfather and anyone else who contributed to this wonderful project.
If any women are interested in becoming a volunteer at St. Gianna’s please contact us. Perhaps you will be reading some of the books to the children that are kept in the wonderful bookcase made by Nick. St. Gianna, pray for us!
