RAINY DAY When communities experience unusually severe economic challenges, social enrichment programs are often the first things to be lost. In order to assure that children living in these towns continue to have access to high-quality books and literary inspiration, CLiF designed a program to make such support available to towns in need, particularly those communities where a major employer has closed. Unlike our other programs, the Rainy Day sponsorship is quite flexible in the support CLiF provides. CLiF works closely with town leaders such as librarians, school principals, and planning commissioners to deliver a high-impact literacy sponsorship tailored to that town’s individual needs. As part of a sponsorship CLiF might donate a collection of new children’s books to the local library, arrange to have a children’s book author give a presentation, provide three days of writing workshops to local children, or give books to children to keep. In 2002 when the pulp and paper mill in Berlin, NH closed, CLiF provided the community with books for its library, books for its school, and storytelling events for all 350 children in town. When asked about the impact of this support, the town’s children’s librarian said: "During (the CLiF) presentations you could see the children’s faces just light up -- their eyes were so wide! We signed up close to 50 kids for library cards and we’ve seen new faces regularly as a result of the presentation. The children are so interested in reading now that they have new books. They are bringing in brothers and sisters wanting to check out the books they have heard about. CLiF is a tough act to follow!" Some of the communities CLiF has sponsored through the Rainy Day Program include: Berlin, Colebrook, Newport, Northumberland, and Troy in New Hampshire; and Barre, Hancock, Guilford, Lunenburg, Richford, Springfield in Vermont. If you know of a town that is in need of help, please suggest a site. View comments from individuals who have received a sponsorship.