We are excited to launch our #BooksThatShapedUs series! Through this ongoing initiative, we’ll be sharing personal stories from the staff, board members, and volunteers at Oshkosh Area United Way (OAUW) about the books that have shaped their lives. These stories highlight the lasting impact of literacy and provide a glimpse into the lives of those who work to serve our community every day. We hope these posts inspire you to reflect on your own reading journey, contribute to our literacy initiatives, and perhaps even spark a bit of nostalgia for books that once shaped your own story.
Meet Heidi Joubert Thomas, Our Community Impact Manager
For Heidi, the love of reading began early. One of her fondest childhood memories is listening to the story of Heidi by Johanna Spyri. This early introduction to books sparked a passion for reading that grew with her over time. By the age of 10, Heidi was devouring every Babysitter’s Club book she could find, dreaming about starting her own babysitting service and feeling quite grown up while earning personal pizza rewards from Pizza Hut’s reading program.
But like many young readers, school assignments during middle and high school made reading feel like a chore. The prescribed reading lists left her believing she disliked books. It wasn’t until she became a new mom that Heidi rediscovered the joy of reading. Feeling the need for intentional interaction with her infant son, she turned to books. Baby talk wasn’t her style, so she started reading to him instead. In the process, Heidi realized that she needed those quiet moments with books just as much as he did. Reading became an essential part of her parenting journey and a way to reconnect with herself.
Now, 14 years later, reading remains a treasured activity in their household. Heidi and her son still read regularly—sometimes together, sometimes separately. They read to learn, to laugh, to relax, and to escape into new worlds. Through books, they find connection, comfort, and joy.
Heidi’s story shows us that reading is a lifelong relationship—one that can evolve and change over time. When you find the right books (or the right reading buddy), the experience can be transformative. Whether you’re reading for fun, for learning, or for bonding, there’s magic in every story.
How You Can Help
As part of our ongoing efforts to promote literacy in our community, we continue to distribute books to children and families. But we can’t do it alone. We invite you to help us inspire a love of reading by donating to our mission or contributing new and gently used books. Your generosity can make a difference in the lives of local children and families, offering them the gift of reading and all the benefits that come with it.
If you’d like to support our literacy initiatives, you can:
- Donate online at https://www.oshkoshunitedway.org/donate/
- Coordinate a donation drop-off by emailing us at oauw@oshkoshunitedway.org or calling us at (920) 235-8560.
Together, we can help shape a brighter future for children and families in our community, one book at a time.
Stay tuned for more stories from our #BooksThatShapedUs series, as we continue to celebrate the power of literacy and its impact on all of us.