By: Isaiah S. Showell, Follow South Jersey Multimedia Journalist/’What’s Good’ Host
EGG HARBOR CITY, N.J. — The non-profit organization, Friday is Tie Day, expeditiously served South Jersey on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of service at The Fade Room Barbershop by building mini libraries for children.
Michael Forest and three active members of Friday is Tie Day went to The Fade Room Barbershop and loaded the mini library with books and comics honoring the late Dr. King.
“To be able to set something up for the young people to pick up and read while their waiting — it’s a start,” Forest said. “And maybe if they pick up a book here and like, it they can go home and tell their parents about it, and maybe they’ll gain that love for reading.”
Alpha & Omega barbershop, Omar & Abdullah’s barbershop, Truth Be Told barbershop, and Starting Five barbershop also set up mini libraries full of literature for the youth to reinforce the importance of reading.
Daylen Carson, Deondre Davis, and Zicri Forest decided to use their time off from school to stock the mini libraries as much as possible.
“I fell in love with reading — not just reading the words on the pages — but the pictures and the story,” Davis said. “I start to feel what these people are feeling and they’re not even real.”
“I believe there is a power in reading because you’re gaining knowledge and knowledge is power for you and your future and to make yourself more resourceful,” said Carson.
“Reading in general helps to make you smarter,” Forest said. “People read what’s on social media every day, so why can’t they read a book?”
Friday is Tie Day is aimed at mentoring black males in South Jersey. It was founded by Darrell Edmonds. To find out more about the non-profit organization visit fridayistieday.org.
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