- December 4, 2025
After their baby was born prematurely, one local family started a fundraiser that contributed over 1,000 children's books for families with babies at the Halifax Health - Neonatal ICU.
According to a press release, the Nardi family spent every day with their baby girl, holding and feeding her while they awaited the day she could come home. One day, Mr. Nardi mentioned to his wife that he wished he could better connect with his child. She suggested he read to their daughter.
“We brought in one of my own children’s books that I had stored away at home and began reading to our daughter every day and we haven’t stopped," Mrs. Nardi said in the press release. “Now I’m involved in a company that gives back to communities by donating books.”
Halifax Health stated that studies show reading to children has significant and lasting effects on their development, like social and thinking skills. In the hospital NICU, children’s books are available for parents to read to their baby which promote bonding, comfort, language development, and literacy, and to reduce parent stress.
“Mrs. Nardi was so moved by the care and progress her daughter received at Halifax Health, and believed the books made such a difference in her progress, that her family began a fundraiser that contributed over 1,000 children’s books for families with babies the NICU,” said Tanya Wolfe, NICU nurse manager. “Now, each NICU family will be able to go home with a book to read to their child to continue the bonding and language development.”
