From left, in back, are: Jason Hammond, director, Quincy Hester, Jesus Martes Acosta, Michele Quatroche, public computer center; Laquan Davis, Lianna Skye Rodriguez. In front are: Luis Galarza, Bryan Colon Garcia, Lenny Vega Jr.

Special to the OBSERVER

The best gift you can give this season is knowledge, love, understanding, and nurture for your children, family and community.

The Dunkirk Public Library, in partnership with the local CREATE Project, can help you deliver the perfect gift to everyone on you list.

“The “Gift that Keeps on Giving” Book Donation Program, lets you select a book for your kids, parents, grandparents, friends, loved ones, business, organization, or special cause. Highly meaningful and personal gifts, the books you choose do double-duty to benefit our community. Books will be displayed in the new CREATE Project Library Room.

A destination for families and community groups to gather, share, play games, do art, read, and listen to stories and music, The CREATE Project Library Room will highlight our community’s cultures and prioritize enrichment and care for our children and families.

A nameplate bearing the gift recipient and givers’ names and an inscription will be placed in every new book contributed. In addition to this, a gift poster certifying your gift is available. Shaped by everyone in our community — kids and adults alike, you can find your special book on the shelf in the CREATE Project Library Room when you come to visit, read, and play. By having your book on the shelf, you are making the place your own.

You can choose your gift book by visiting the library website. Many titles for children and adults, fiction and non-fiction, and other categories are available for selection. You also have the option to make a donation to a general fund for the CREATE Project Book Donation Program.

Potential donors should visit https://www.dunkirklibrary.org/ and then choose the Community Links dropdown menu. From there visitors can choose the option for CREATE Project Arts and Community Initiative. After that it’s just a matter of clicking the donate buttons.

Beginning in 2020, the CREATE Project Library Room will feature special presentations, demonstrations, and performances.

Jason Hammond, the library director, invites all to this innovative enterprise. The program will bring cross-cultural understanding through focusing on child-rearing best practices in a different culture each third Thursday of the month from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The CREATE Project programs for children and their parents will include activities and discussions led by a representative of a different highlighted culture each month. Refreshments popular in the culture of the evening will give participants a flavor of the country too. Watch in January for more program details on the library’s website.

The CREATE Project is an arts-based community intervention, designed to help our community become free of child-trauma, abuse, and neglect, and to become a place where our children can grow to their highest potential.

The Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation is the CREATE Project’s fiscal sponsor, and the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Chautauqua County is the lead community partner. Though working cooperatively together, the CREATE Project is a separate entity and operates as such. For more information call (716) 680-0266.