Chris Melnick has been booked solid for two decades.
The St. Vital resident is the founder of Share the Magic, a registered charity that collects new and gently used books and redistributes them throughout Manitoba.
Since 2004, the charity has given away 740,000 books with an estimated value of more than $4.5 million.
Chris Melnick is the founder of Share the Magic, a registered charity that collects new and gently used books and redistributes them throughout Manitoba. (Mike Sudoma/Free Press)
“I believe there’s magic in books,” says Melnick, who holds a master’s degree in library and information science. “When you share a book, you’re sharing the magic in that book.”
Melnick fell under the spell of the printed word at an early age.
She has fond childhood memories of visiting the St. Vital Library with her father, whose work as a firefighter and union leader kept him busy.
“That was very special because I got to be with my dad,” says Melnick, who is the youngest of five children.
After she was elected as the MLA for Riel in 2003, Melnick noticed the disparity of wealth among residents in her south Winnipeg riding.
She started buying books at high-end garage sales and distributing them to lower-income housing units.
A few months later, in August 2004, she delivered a car trunk full of books to a community event in Point Douglas. Melnick gave away 1,300 books in two hours.
Now retired, she spends about 40 hours each week volunteering with Share the Magic.
Volunteer opportunities
The following is a list of volunteer opportunities for Winnipeg and surrounding areas. For more information about these listings, contact the organization directly. Volunteer Manitoba does not place volunteers with organizations but can help people find opportunities. To learn more about its programs and services, go to www.volunteermanitoba.ca or call 204-477-5180.
The following is a list of volunteer opportunities for Winnipeg and surrounding areas. For more information about these listings, contact the organization directly. Volunteer Manitoba does not place volunteers with organizations but can help people find opportunities. To learn more about its programs and services, go to www.volunteermanitoba.ca or call 204-477-5180.
___________________
Volunteers are needed for the Henteleff Park Foundation’s 20th-annual tree-planting event. More than 150 fruit trees and shrubs will be planted for the new food forest starting at 10 a.m. on June 8. Bring gardening gloves. Volunteers will enjoy fiddle music and refreshments, and learn more about the park.
Health Sciences Centre needs children’s ward visitors to provide play, interaction and friendly support to young patients. Volunteers might help parents supervise siblings and support the child life specialist with program events and seasonal decorating. Responsibilities also include tidying and organizing play equipment, escorting patients to school or play programs and cleaning toys. Volunteers should have experience with children, enjoy being around kids of all ages and be comfortable interacting with hospitalized children and the public. They must be able to express themselves clearly in English and adhere to hospital safety and infection-control policies. Background checks are required, with costs reimbursed. Must be 18 or older. Only weekday daytime volunteers are needed. Apply online at http://wfp.to/ysE by June 30.
Helping Hands for Manitobans with Breast Cancer needs people to join its board of directors to make a difference in the lives of those affected. The non-profit group provides financial help to people in need across Manitoba. Board members are expected to participate in securing funding and organizing fundraising events, with positions typically lasting two to four years. Apply at info@helpinghands4mbwbc.com or http://wfp.to/ysg by June 30.
Assiniboine Park needs volunteers. People between the ages of 14 and 94 and are encouraged to apply at http://wfp.to/ys2.
Chalmers Neighbourhood Renewal Corp. needs people to lend a hand at its Happy Days on Henderson event on June 22. Volunteer roles range from setup and take-down to stagehand, bike valet and food station, among others. There will be an orientation meeting at 180 Poplar Ave. on June 18 at 5:30 p.m., with pizza and a comprehensive briefing of the event day’s flow, including station duties and a guided tour. Must be 13 or older. The minimum time commitment is two hours, but people are welcome to volunteer for up to eight hours. Apply at operations@chalmersrenewal.org or http://wfp.to/yaM by June 17.
FortWhyte Alive needs camp counsellors to spend the summer riding bikes, taking walks, swimming and paddling with campers. Must be 14 to 19 years old at the time of volunteering and able to commit to two weeks during the summer. Apply at http://wfp.to/y28 or volunteers@fortwhyte.org by June 20.
The Manitoba Writers’ Guild needs a treasurer. The volunteer ensures all revenues are deposited into the guild’s bank account, arranges for an independent audit from an outside accounting firm, monitors financial operations to ensure they are in line with the guild’s goals, reports monthly to the board on the state of finances, and works with the executive committee to prepare and present a budget at the annual general meeting. The treasurer works with a certified bookkeeper who uses QuickBooks to track transactions. Some accounting knowledge or experience as a finance officer is desirable. For more details, email guild president Sharon Hamilton at MWGpresident2023@gmail.com. The deadline to apply is June 30.
The Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba needs volunteers to join its board of directors. The nominating committee invites applications from those committed to the association’s mission of peer support, education and advocacy for mental wellness. Board members will serve a term of up to three years, participating in monthly meetings and various committees. Applicants will ideally have skills in areas such as financial management, law, governance and mental health. The association is dedicated to increasing diversity on its board and encourages applications from people of various backgrounds, including Indigenous communities and other underrepresented groups. Email chair@moodmb.ca by Aug. 11.
The Canadian Red Cross needs volunteers. The Red Cross can show you how to help when disaster strikes. Go to http://wfp.to/0pE, email volunteer@redcross.ca or call 1-844-818-2155.
She collects books from a variety of sources, including school libraries and people who are downsizing.
Share the Magic has partnerships with numerous organizations that help distribute the books, including 1JustCity, BGC Winnipeg (formerly known as the Boys and Girls Club of Winnipeg) and the Rotary Club of Winnipeg, which sends books to remote areas of Manitoba.
“My hope is simply that it helps to raise literacy levels in under-served communities,” Melnick says.
She recalls a Grade 3 classroom she visited monthly some years ago. Students were allowed to choose one book each time. After setting down her box of books during one visit, a small boy ran over, wrapped his arms around the box and laid his head on the top.
The rest of the students formed a line so that they could hug the box, too.
“Those are the moments I see Share the Magic having an impact,” Melnick says.
Share the Magic volunteers and supporters held a brunch last month to celebrate the charity’s 20th anniversary.
Melnick plans to be involved with the organization for the rest of her life.
“I have received so much in my life,” she says. “I don’t come from money, I don’t come from a well-known family or anything like that. But I had wonderful parents, including a father who believed in supporting his children. I was fortunate to get a master’s in library science, fortunate to get elected and I’m fortunate to have enough money to live in my senior years.
“I just want to give back and this is a way I can do it. Let’s keep giving away books.”
Learn more by visiting the charity’s Facebook page (search for Share the Magic Book Program) or by emailing cmelnick@mymts.net.
If you know a special volunteer, please contact aaron.epp@gmail.com.