NWCH children get more than 1,200 new books

Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights recently received 1,281 donated books for its pediatric patients, from Barnes and Noble in Arlington Heights.

Every year, Barnes and Noble stores hold holiday book drives for its customers to purchase and then donate new books to hospitals. The program provides books to more than 2 million children across the country.

Volunteers and staff at the hospital distributed the newly donated books in December to the Pediatric Unit, Pediatric Emergency Department, and the Radiology Department.

There were even enough books for some to be saved for later use in the waiting areas of the new eight-story South Pavilion, opening May 1.

"The reaction of the children who got the new books to read was pure enjoyment," said Cindy Hartwig, director of Women's and Children's Services. "It gave them something to be excited about while they were here at the hospital over the holidays."

NCH's Pediatric Emergency Department sees more than 10,000 children a year, and the Pediatric inpatient unit has approximately 2,000 admissions annually.

For more information about how NCH serves the community, visit www.nch.org.