Cutting the ribbon are (from left) Addelyn and Josue Erazo, Gabe and Qiqi Derosier, Abra Kurt, Karen Wheeler and Kimberly Reinhard.
Fairfax-based nonprofit Britepaths provides many valuable services to area families in need. Now it’s also offering something enjoyable to its clients’ children – their very own reading area/library.
Called The Secret Garden, it’s a cute and cozy, in-office book nook where children may select new and like-new books to take home and treasure. This free, community resource is designed to inspire imagination, foster a love of reading and support literacy development in children of all ages. Toward that end, Britepaths held a ribbon cutting for its new addition on June 18.
“We’re so excited to introduce this new dimension to our family services,” said Britepaths Executive Director Abra Kurt. “It’s our very own, little free library where children in our community can [peruse] and take home books to keep.”
The books are available in multiple languages and range from chunky board books for babies and toddlers, to picture books, chapter books and young-adult novels. All of them have been generously donated by community members, businesses and civic groups in the spirit of neighbors helping neighbors.
Reading plays a crucial role in children’s development by helping them build empathy, improve concentration and spark curiosity. So via this new initiative, Britepaths aims to help close the reading gap for children whose families may not be able to afford books at home.
“For many families we serve, books can feel like a luxury when essentials like food and housing take priority,” explained Kurt. “The Secret Garden at Britepaths is about nourishing young minds by offering a joyful place where children can explore stories, build their own home libraries and develop a lifelong love of reading.”
Joining Britepaths for the ceremony were families from its partner school, Daniels Run Elementary in Fairfax City; Britepaths Board of Directors President Karen Wheeler; Board member Gabe Derosier; Kimberly Reinhard, immediate past president of the Northern Virginia Association for the Education of Young Children; and Cindy Southworth, whose 50-book donation seeded The Secret Garden.
Speaking first, Kurt said she was a voracious reader as a child. “I grew up in a house filled with books,” she said. “Rather than tuning in to television shows after dinner, my dad would settle in with a book. He was drawn to history and biographies.
“But I fell in love with the suspense of Nancy Drew mysteries, felt seen and understood by the novels of Judy Blume, and had endless adventures through series books like ‘Little House on the Prairie’ and the “Chronicles of Narnia,” for all its transcendent themes of music and friendship and that anything is possible. But of course, my favorite book was ‘The Secret Garden.’”
Later, as an adult, Kurt volunteered with the children’s literacy organization, The Reading Connection, and in 2012 founded a book club called The Cover Girls. “It’s still going strong with 10 dear friends today,” she said. “I proudly self-identify as a certified book nerd.”
“And those are just a few reasons why I’m so grateful for the opportunity to share this passion with the Britepaths community and inspire others to support the curiosity and joy of reading for young people,” she continued. “It takes a village, and everything in The Secret Garden – down to the shelves and bookmarks – has been donated.”
Next, Reinhard described the new book nook as “an inviting space built with love, hope and a deep belief in the power of words. Throughout my career in Northern Virginia, I’ve served in many positions where I’ve seen the impact that early reading and access to books has on children, their families and the community.
“Early childhood literacy is more than just developing language and learning to read – it’s the foundation for lifelong learning, opportunity and success. Infants and children who are read to from an early age develop stronger language, literacy, cognitive and social-emotional skills. Beyond research, we know this in our hearts – a child with a book is a child with a window to the world.”
Stressing the importance of a free library, Reinhard said, “For many families in our community, access to books is not a given. That’s why this space matters. Every shelf, story, cozy corner and nook in this Secret Garden represents a chance for a child to explore, imagine and grow. Access to books and rich language experiences should be a right for all children, not a privilege just for a few.
“By supporting early literacy, we’re not just preparing kids for school – we’re opening doors for their futures. And by opening The Secret Garden today, we’re making opening those doors just a little bit easier. This ribbon cutting marks not just the creation of a new book nook, but a commitment to providing children with windows, sliding doors and mirrors where they can see themselves, the world around them, a world they never dreamed possible, and a world that really could be – one reflecting their lives and expanding their thinking.”
All in all, said Reinhard, “It’s a commitment to growth, inclusion and empowerment. So, thank you to everyone here, and especially Britepaths, for believing in books, children and the power of a story to change a life.”
“Truly, creating The Secret Garden was a labor of love,” added Kurt. “So much love and generosity are infused into it. And it was a long time coming; it was something I’d wanted to do since I first started with Britepaths in early 2023.
“And it reminds me of one of my favorite quotes from ‘The Secret Garden’ – ‘At first, people refuse to believe that a strange, new thing can be done. Then they begin to hope it can be done. Then they see it can be done. And then it is done, and all the world wonders why it was not done centuries ago.’”
After the ribbon cutting, Denise Erazo of Herndon watched as her three young children – Josue, 7; Addelyn, 5; and Caleb, 3 – happily looked through the books and picked out some to take home. Erazo plans to take advantage of Britepaths’ emergency food pantry but had come that day specifically for this event.
“It’s an amazing library,” she said. “It’s great for children to improve their literacy skills by giving them free books.”
How to Support Britepaths’ Secret Garden
Britepaths welcomes community support to help keep its Secret Garden stocked and thriving. Individuals, schools and local organizations are encouraged to donate new or gently used books for children and teens in all languages; host a book drive; or make a financial contribution. For more information or to coordinate a donation, go to britepaths.org or contact Britepaths at 703-273-8829 or info@britepaths.org.
About Britepaths
Nonprofit Britepaths provides families and individuals with the support and resources they need to thrive. Through its wide range of programs, Britepaths helps families and individuals move from crisis to resilience and stability by addressing food insecurity, financial education and workforce development. Since 1984, Britepaths has served hundreds of thousands of individuals in Northern Virginia, working to create a stronger, more vibrant community for all. See www.britepaths.org.