RED BANK, NJ – The Department of Human Services (DHS) has partnered with the Bridge of Books
Foundation to create a mini-library of over 300 books for its visitation room in the Division of Youth and Family
Services (DFYS) Northern Monmouth District Office in Red Bank, in time for children’s summer reading.

Children who are placed in foster homes and are supervised by this office can use the mini-library when they come
for their weekly or bi-weekly visit with their birth parents. The children are allowed to take the books home and
keep them if they like. Each day from 10 to 20 children, aged pre-school through high school, come through the Red
Bank DYFS office.

Brownie Troop 1475 of Middletown, led by Susan Strano, aided in the mini-library project by collecting over 300
books for the bookcase. The DYFS office also receives frequent calls from people who wish to donate more books.

Plans for additional libraries are already in the works, including one in the Asbury Park Southern Monmouth District
Office, according to Jo Pohl, Resource Development Specialist in the Northern District Office.

The Bridge of Books Foundation is a non-profit, all-volunteer organization with the goal of providing new and used
books directly to children who may not otherwise have access to books.

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