The Joy Market

There is so much beauty in the simple act of reading a book to a child. A book ignites imagination, encourages literacy, and creates a connection between the child and the reader. A book on its own cultivates beautiful. But, add meaningful lessons of friendship and unity while also funding causes for kids, and the beautiful multiplies. That’s what happens at The Joy Market.

The Joy Market’s first published book, Animals of the Nativity, provided food for children in the West African country of Benin. Through their partnership with the non-profit Aide La Vie, special life-saving food was distributed to malnourished kids, such as Liana, who was unable to walk. Once she received the special food, Liana was walking again.  

Luckily, the Joy Market’s idea and impact have grown from that first book. They’ve since published two more books, with another on the way. Last year, the book, The Bear Hug, helped to fund a school of 150 refugee children in Syria. The book addresses the “us versus them” mentality, and kids in the US wrote cards to the Syrian children, who then in turn wrote cards back. As founder Erin Burchik wrote in her grant application, “It was so beautiful to hear them talk about their new, cross-cultural friends and to see this grassroots peacemaking shape the hearts of these precious children.”

The Joy Market is well on its way to fulfilling its mission of bringing joy to children through cultivating “compassion, creativity, and curiosity through a crazy love for books.” With the See Beautiful Milestone Grant funding, the Joy Market plans to expand programs in schools, introducing more children to the joyful and beautiful acts of reading and giving.

Author

Jannan Poppen, Giving Coordinator