ShineOnCass Foundation installs Little Free Library in Waterville

WATERVILLE, Maine (WABI) - Cassidy Charette was a Messalonskee High School student who died in a hayride accident in 2014.

The ShineOnCass Foundation continues to promote kindness and compassion in her name.

Monica Charette is Cassidy’s mother and the executive director of ShineOnCass.

”She just had a passion for reading and loved books.”

To honor that passion a new Little Free Library has been installed in the after school program area of the Alfond Youth and Community Center in Waterville.

“From the moment she was born, we read to her.” said Charette. “She carried books around her whole life until she was 17. She was an active member of our local public library in Oakland.”

Children are welcome to select a book to read and return, or keep it and replace it with a different book of their own. Christine Johnson, AYCC’s child and youth development director, says they were excited to get the library installed.

“We have such a large licensed child care center here we can take up to 250 children a day. We thought this was the perfect place.”

The design of the library to resemble the sun is both eye catching and symbolic.

“What better way to honor her memory than to shine her light by sharing her passion for reading?” said Charette.

Anyone interested in contributing to the library can visit shine on cass dot org to support it financially or see what books are wanted.

“We have a list running of requests from our kids already.” said Johnson.

“The picture that we chose of Cassidy is about the age that these children are, and I feel like when children look at her face, they see themselves, a reflection of themselves.” said Charette. “I hope they’re inspired to be lifelong readers like she was.”

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