Waiting areas are not always fun places to be, especially when waiting can be a lengthy process. Factor in waiting with children and the fun quotient is considerably reduced.

  To improve the waiting experience in a meaningful way, Gateway Community Action Partnership’s Women, Infants & Children (WIC) program and the Greater Bridgeton Area Family Success Center and the Southern New Jersey Regional Early Intervention Collaborative have partnered to provide lending libraries for program participants as they wait for services.

  An event celebrating the lending libraries kickoff will be held Friday, September 29 at 11 a.m. at Gateway’s WIC, 10 Washington St. Bridgeton. The event is free and open to the public and features, in addition to officially opening the library, healthy snacks and drinks for children and families.

  SNJ Regional Early Intervention Collaborative is partnering with 1000 Books Foundation and Lowes of Cumberland County to provide Little Free Children’s Libraries. These libraries will be an educational resource for families to utilize while waiting for direct or referral services.  There are a total of six Little Free Libraries, three indoor location and three outdoor locations throughout Cumberland County, noted Jerrice Moore of the SNJ Regional Early Intervention Collaborative.    

  Moore, of SNJ Regional Early Intervention Collaborative coordinated efforts with Manjula Malladi of Gateway’s WIC program, Ashley Todd of the Greater Bridgeton Family Success Center, Leahe Togno, of Commercial Township Family Success Center, Nadine Lockey, Downe Township Senior Center, Donna Jacoby Maurice River Township Senior Center and a host of others through the NJEI system, to coordinate the donation of the lending libraries concept, books and benches.

  The three indoor locations are: Gateway WIC, 10 Washington St., Bridgeton, Greater Bridgeton FSC, 155 Spruce St., Bridgeton, Gateway WIC, 811 W. Main St., Millville.

  The three outdoor locations are: Laurel Lake Family Success Center/Commercial Township, 2009 Spring Garden Rd., Downe Township Municipal Office Senior Center, Maurice River Township Municipal Building Senior Center

  For addition event or lending libraries information, call at 856-497-6738.