Nonprofi t builds home libraries for
low-income families during COVID-19
BY JASON COHEN
Libraries are shuttered
due to COVID-19 and many
low-income families do not
have access to computers in
their homes.
One newly created nonprofi
t, Start Lighthouse, realized
this and on May 15,
distributed 300 books to students
at P.S. 5, in Port Morris.
Each child received literacy
kits, which have two
books and supplemental resources
to aid in student
comprehension and further
their engagement. According
to co-founder Rina Madhani,
“the resources are designed
to become part of the daily
reading routine and further
cultivate a reading culture at
home.”
“Books are luxury items
for some families,” Madhani
explained. “Right now students
aren’t able to go out
and buy new books for themselves.”
Madhani, who launched
Start Lighthouse in March
with her friend and former
classmate at NYU, Brittany
Kramer, said the goal is to
foster literacy for students
and families in the south
Bronx. Given the current crisis,
the need for providing access
to literature has never
been greater.
“A lot of people live in
shelters and remote learning
has not been accessible
to everyone,” she explained.
“There is a digital divide and
not every kid has a laptop.
What these kids really need
are books they can hold and
read at home.”
Madhani, 27, of Manhattan,
does analytics for
Success Academy Charter
Schools and from 2015 to 2017
was a teacher in the south
Bronx. As an educator, she
already knew the struggle
those children and families
faced and now during the
pandemic, their struggles
are magnifi ed.
So, she and Kramer, who
is a medical student at Touro
College, wanted to give back.
The duo launched a virtual
wish list where people could
purchase books from independent
BRONX TIMES R 32 EPORTER, MAY 22-28, 2020 BTR
sellers and Starlight
would then distribute them
to the community.
In total, they have collected
325 books.
“You don’t know the impact
this is going to have on
our communities and our families,”
Danielle Keane, principal
at P.S. 5 said to Madhani.
Madhani said they are in
the process of being incorporated
to a 501(c) (3) and the goal
is to give away 1,000 books by
the end of the year.
“We’re trying to create a
reading culture,” she said.
“There’s such a need for students
to become profi cient
readers. I’m really excited to
see where it goes. I hope we
can shed a bit of light in these
uncertain times.”
For those interested in
learning more, contact info@
startlighthouse.org.
Start Lighthouse Kits that were handed out May 15.
Courtesy of Start Lighthouse
/startlighthouse.org