Twice Upon a Time/Il Était Deux Fois

Overview

Twice Upon a Time/Il Était Deux Fois is a Canadian nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free books to children in Ottawa, Ontario. Founded in 2014, it operates entirely through volunteer efforts. The organization's mission is to support literacy and foster a love of reading among children by ensuring they have access to books at home.

Mission and Goals

• Literacy Support: Twice Upon a Time focuses on enhancing early literacy skills by making books available to children aged 0 to 12. This includes providing both English and French books to cater to the bilingual needs of the Ottawa community.
• Home Library Development: By giving children the opportunity to own books, the organization aims to create a sense of pride in book ownership. This is believed to encourage more frequent reading within families, as having continuous access to books enhances school readiness and academic performance[2].

Operations and Funding

The organization is designated as a registered charity by the Canada Revenue Agency, with the business registration number 803095777RR0001. It relies on donations and occasional matching funds to support its activities. For example, there have been initiatives where donations were matched up to certain amounts to amplify fundraising impacts[2].

Community Impact

Twice Upon a Time also seeks to complement existing public library services by providing books to children who may not regularly visit libraries due to concerns about fines or other barriers. The project draws inspiration from initiatives like the Children's Book Bank in Toronto, emphasizing the importance of having books at home for better educational outcomes[5].