Bowling for reading in Wantagh

The Book Fairies, a charity that collects reading materials for people in need throughout Long Island, will host its first “Bowling for Books” event at AMF Wantagh Lanes on Columbus Day from noon to 2 p.m. Proceeds will be used to raise money to purchase electronic book readers for children who have extended stays in local hospitals.

Most hospitals are unable to accept gently used books due to dust and other allergens, explained charity founder Amy Zaslansky, who lives in Bellmore. E-book readers will help these children academically, engage their minds and “provide a distraction from the doctors, tests, diagnoses, boredom and pain that come from living in a hospital,” she said.

The goal is to provide the hospitals with 50 Nook and Kindle devices along with gift cards to purchase books for the devices. The e-readers will go to the Cohen’s Children’s Hospital at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center; Nassau University Medical Center; Good Samaritan Hospital; and the Ronald McDonald House.

The event is $20 per person and includes two hours of bowling, shoe rental, one pizza per lane and unlimited soda.

The Books Fairies, a nonprofit organization, has in its two years of existence delivered more than 82,000 books to people in lower income areas. Gently used books are provided to schools, libraries, hospitals, community centers, soup kitchens, battered women’s shelters, teen programs and homeless shelters. “Reading fosters literacy and academic success,” said Zaslansky. “It provides a respite from struggles and nurtures a love of reading, no matter your age.”

Zaslansky founded this organization after she heard about how children in nearby school districts were going home over the summer with nothing to read. She decided to put together a book drive within her own school district in Bellmore and received more than 3,000 books. “It was as if someone turned the light on,” said Zaslansky. “I realized there were lots of parents who wanted to get rid of old books and lots of places where they needed books. I figured what was needed was a middle person, a conduit between the two groups. I wanted this to be a local charity that would help local people.”