NAHANT — Grace United Methodist Church collaborated with Nahant Village Church for a book drive that saw hundreds of donations delivered to students at LEO on Friday morning.

The books will benefit the Head Start program, which prepares low-income children for kindergarten. Head Start also works in tandem to encompass a family’s needs from pregnancy to age three, according to its website. LEO serves approximately 450 families across Lynn, Lynnfield, Marblehead, Swampscott, Saugus, Nahant, and Wakefield.

When staff members from both churches arrived to drop off the donations, there were so many books that they had to be wheeled inside the building with a dolly by the maintenance staff.

“The families we serve don’t always have what they need to meet their basic needs, and so we rely on any type of community partners — whether it’s churches or other resources — to help them get access to things that they might not otherwise have. Today, that’s books,” Assistant Program Director for Early Childhood Programs Trisha Lynne Coolong said.

She continued, explaining how the donations will benefit Head Start.

“Right now, we have a language and literacy gap across the state, and I’m sure the nation, too. This will help extend reading at home and give kids the opportunity to learn more when they’re not at school,” Coolong said.

United Women of Faith President Pamela Mavrelion from Grace United Methodist Church stressed the importance of the donation, noting that every child should have access to literature.

Mavrellion said this is the second collaboration with Nahant Village Church. Last year, the two entities partnered for a sock drive to bring to families in need. She added that, ultimately, the two churches collected roughly 3,000 pairs of socks. 

Lisa Haley, who is on the Missions Committee for Nahant Village Church, expressed that the church is happy to collaborate with other organizations to meet the needs of the community.

“I think that reading is one of the most important things. If you can read, you can do anything. It’s just important for kids to have books around the house that they can read with their parents. My mother used to read to us every night, and it was my favorite part of the day,” Nahant Village Church Office Manager Chris Stevens said.

LEO Enrollment Coordinator Lisa Ciampa-Cahill said, “The reason I do what I do is to see the smiles on children’s faces, because I know what a difference it makes in their lives.”

Photo: Spenser Hasak | Purchase this photo

LEO Inc., employee Richard Garcia loads boxes of books that were donated to the early childhood center by Nahant Village Church and Grace United Methodist Church in Lynn.

Photo: Spenser Hasak | Purchase this photo

Nahant Village Church Office Manager Chris Stevens, left, and LEO Inc., Enrollment Coordinator Lisa Ciampa-Cahill stack boxes of books that were donated by Nahant Village Church and Grace United Methodist Church in Lynn.

Photo: Spenser Hasak | Purchase this photo

From left, United Women of Faith President Pam Mavrelion, LEO Inc., Family Services Worker Aleah Tillotson, LEO Inc., Enrollment Coordinator Lisa Ciampa-Cahill, LEO Inc., Assistant Program Director for Early Childhood Programs Trisha-Lynne Coolong, Nahant Village Church Office Manager Chris Stevens, and Nahant Village Church Missions Committee member Lisa Haley hold books that were collected at the churches and donated to LEO Inc., on Friday.

Photo: Spenser Hasak | Purchase this photo

Thiago B.C. reads a book donated to LEO Inc.'s Early Education Center by Nahant Village Church and Grace United Methodist Church in Lynn.

Photo: Spenser Hasak | Purchase this photo

Taleesha P. reads a book donated to LEO Inc.'s Early Education Center by Nahant Village Church and Grace United Methodist Church in Lynn.

Photo: Spenser Hasak | Purchase this photo

Oscar P. reads a book donated to LEO Inc.'s Early Education Center by Nahant Village Church and Grace United Methodist Church in Lynn.

Photo: Spenser Hasak | Purchase this photo

Students at LEO Inc.'s Early Education Center were surprised with boxes of books on Friday that were donated thanks to a joint effort from Nahant Village Church and Grace United Methodist Church in Lynn.