The SDG Library is delighted to announce that it has been awarded a $500 grant from the Sarah Badgley Literacy Fund for Rural Ontario Children, supporting the creation of ten (10) new Storytime Kits for children ages 2–8.
Established in 2002 by the Rural Learning Association and transferred to the Ontario Library Association in 2016, the Sarah Badgley Literacy Fund honours the memory of Sarah Rosalind Badgley (1998–2001), a bright and joyful child who loved visiting her local library. Since its inception, the fund has supported more than 60 Ontario public libraries, strengthening literacy opportunities for children in rural communities. Each year, up to four (4) grants of up to $500 are awarded to libraries that demonstrate a commitment to developing and encouraging children’s literacy initiatives.
With this support, the SDG Library will introduce ten (10) themed Storytime Kits; Feelings, Colours, Counting, Shapes and Patterns, Farm Life, Space and Planets, Imagination and MakeBelieve, Community Helpers, Animals, and Transportation. Each backpackstyle kit will include two (2) children’s books, activity sheets and learning games, a sensory toy, and a caregiver guide with practical reading tips. The kits are designed to encourage curiosity, creativity, and shared reading at home.
Director of Library Services, Rebecca Luck, was honoured to receive a personal message from Kerry Badgley, one of Sarah’s parents, who praised the strength of the application shared that they are looking forward to visiting with Library Staff and seeing the completed kits. “We are deeply grateful to receive this grant,” said Luck. “The Sarah Badgley Literacy Fund carries a powerful legacy of hope, learning, and community. This support enables us to provide meaningful, engaging literacy tools to families across Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, helping children discover the joy of reading and the confidence that grows from it.”
The Storytime Kits will officially launch on Family Literacy Day, January 27, 2026, celebrating the joy of reading together and the enduring impact of the Sarah Badgley Literacy Fund.
To learn more about the fund visit https://accessola.com/sarah-badgley-literacy-fund-for-rural-ontario-children/