WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — For many, diving into a good book can bring a sense of joy and happiness. That's what Kalyn Essick, an English teacher in the Canton Area School district, hopes can happen here at the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Williamsport.
"I just saw the need for someone to be able to do something other than sit on their cell phone while they are taking their chemo or radiation treatments," said Essick.
For the past few months, Essick worked with the Susquehanna Health Foundation and began to raise money to buy new books and a mobile library for the cancer center. She donated the mobile cart that includes a little bit of everything.
"Lots of popular titles," she said. "Things that have been popular in the last couple of years, as well as some classics certainly. But mostly highly sought-after books that have been in people's hands for the last five to ten years."
When cancer patients arrive for treatment, they usually spend eight hours on average at the Hillman Cancer Center. They now can pick up a book to pass the time.
"Life is not easy," said Laurie King, a social worker at the cancer center. "It is intense and hard when going through cancer, and what better way to be able to escape through a fiction and have something like that to just get away from the reality of how difficult cancer is."
"It is nice to be able to take a break and escape reality a bit and dive into a good book, and I hope they enjoy this library that is here," added Essick.
Essick plans to exchange books as time goes on.
"Two to four times a year, I will come in and swap some books out. As you can see, they do have a sticker in each book asking to bring it back when they are don reading it. They certainly take these home," Essick stated.
You can help out by purchasing new books for the cancer center. You find a wish list of books here.