Reading Treasury is a kid-created project under the umbrella of Post Road, Inc., a non-profit organization.

In the summer of 2020, during the pandemic, reading had been a great way to escape. 9 year old Oola Breen-Ryan wanted to share her love of books with other people.

She began by simply giving books she’d read and enjoyed to her close friends, then adding little items like hand-bound journals and bookmarks to fit the general theme of the books. Soon she was doing this for a nursing home. After speaking with a friend, she realized the potential of this project, and voila!

The next month, she reached out to an emergency homeless shelter for families. She and her parents created 21 boxes, each with a unique theme, for kids ranging from 9 months to 17 years old.

So far, Reading Treasury has donated roughly 500 books, 250 handmade bookmarks, 45 hand-stitched quilts, and 350 journals to children in need. We’ve also donated 26 valentine-making kits.

Recently, Oola ran a zine-making workshop at the shelter, complete with 23 zine kits!

(Now 13-year-old) Oola hopes Reading Treasury can spread her love of books, 1 author at a time.