Edyta’s community library: how it’s going
In our last edition, we spoke to customer Edyta, who had been making a difference in her community by creating a beautiful community library!
Edyta shared that she has two children who require medical care, which can sometimes leave her feeling isolated. Reading is important to her, offering both comfort and connection. Wanting to share this enjoyment with others, she set out to build a welcoming community library for her neighbours to enjoy.
We supported Edyta’s project by donating £125 towards the cost of the library structure and paint, and a contribution towards books sourced from the local recycling centre.
The community library was painted by Edyta’s friend, using reused paint from Seagulls Reuse, both reducing waste and adding an environmentally friendly, personal and heartfelt touch to the library. Vistry, one of our developers, kindly installed the community library.
Edyta shared more about her library with us…
“Reading gives me a chance to switch off from everyday stresses and have a bit of quiet time. It helps me relax, improves my focus, and sometimes even gives me new ideas or ways of thinking about things.
I enjoy reading a mix of genres, but I’m especially drawn to uplifting fiction and real-life stories. I love books that explore different perspectives and experiences, because they help me understand people and the world around me a bit better.
Working with Stonewater and the developers was a really positive experience. They were supportive, open to ideas and genuinely interested in making something that would benefit the whole community. It felt like a real team effort.
Seeing the library box installed for the first time was such a proud moment! It was exciting to think that something we worked on would now be there for everyone to use and enjoy.
The library is getting a lot of use - I change the books quite often, and as soon as I put books into it, I notice that people are taking them and replacing them as well.
I hope it encourages more people to read and share books, and maybe even start conversations with neighbours they haven’t met before. Even something small like swapping a book can bring people together.
Being part of this project gave me the chance to meet people I might not have spoken to otherwise. It’s helped create a sense of shared purpose and pride in where we live, and it’s made me feel more proud and more connected to my community.
It’s rewarding to know that I’ve played a small part in something positive that others can benefit from!”