Children have the opportunity to select a book from the Lundy Law Library Express cart. Books are available to hospital patients as well as children receiving outpatient treatment.
To a hospital bound child, the sound of the colorful Lundy Law Library Express cart rolling down the corridor can mean a journey into imagination and creativity. Founded by Judy Lundy and her husband L. Leonard Lundy, managing partner of the Lundy Law Firm, The Lundy Law Foundation works to improve literacy among children throughout the Delaware Valley.
“The foundation was established to honor Marvin Lundy,” Judy Lundy said. “Marvin was the founder of Lundy Law and my husband’s uncle. When Marvin passed away, we wanted to continue his legacy of philanthropy and community service.”
In 2012, the Lundys started the Lundy Law Foundation based largely on Judy’s passion for literature and her love of children. The foundation operates the Lundy Law Library Express, which supplies new and gently used books to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and other local service organizations.
“Unlike a lending library, The Lundy Law Library Express distributes books that the children are allowed to keep,” said Judy Lundy, who is president of the foundation. “We serve children from ages 2 through 18 who are hospitalized for a wide range of medical conditions. It’s wonderful to see how comforting a book can be to a child coping with a health issue.”
Children have the opportunity to select a book from the Lundy Law Library Express cart. Books are available to hospital patients as well as children receiving outpatient treatment. In addition to visiting patients in their rooms, volunteers make library carts accessible in the CHOP Emergency Room and Beurger Center waiting area. The siblings of patients are also allowed to choose a book, which they may keep.
Founded by Judy Lundy, above, and her husband L. Leonard Lundy, managing partner of the Lundy Law Firm, The Lundy Law Foundation works to improve literacy among children throughout the Delaware Valley.
The Lundy Law Library Express obtains many of the books it distributes from Scholastic Book Clubs. The foundation either purchases books with donations or receives books as gifts. According to Lundy, some local schools help by encouraging donations at their book fairs. Parents and students who purchase books at the book fair are invited to purchase additional books for children in need.
“We are able to share books in many formats to readers at every level,” Lundy added. “We have books that cover a variety of interests, in addition to Spanish language books and books for the blind.”
Besides supporting literacy efforts in the United States, Judy Lundy has also participated in an international health program with CHOP. She was recently invited to join CHOP in distributing books to children in the Dominican Republic.
“The people from CHOP asked me to come to the Dominican Republic with them and help deliver books to local barrios and clinics,” she said. “It was a marvelous experience. We gave children activity books and the response was very heartwarming. I know everyone who contributed to the effort got as much out of the experience as the children did.”
The Lundy Law Foundation is also working with the Berkman Mercaz Limud of Congregation Rodeph Shalom on a program that has established a Jewish library. The books are utilized in after school programs and for Hebrew School studies.
Lundy pointed out that the foundation is open to assisting additional public organizations that promote literacy. In the past year, the foundation’s activities have been limited by COVID-19 restrictions.
“Like everyone else we’ve had to become more creative during COVID-19,” commented Lundy. “We are planning programs for low-income children and other services through which people who work in offices help children with homework. We are willing to consider any program that will advance literacy. The foundation has over 1,000 books stockpiled, which have not been distributed because of COVID-19 limitations. We look forward to resuming a full schedule soon and getting those books into the hands of children.”
The Lundy Law Foundation in based in Philadelphia, Pa. Anyone interested in learning more about the foundation and the Lundy Law Library Express, can visit lundylawlibraryexpress.org or call 215-567-3000.