LAKE BLUFF – Pivoting since the COVID-19 pandemic, Bernie’s Book Bank is getting free books to children who need them and bringing those books to life.

An inaugural Storybook Festival hosted May 22 by the Lake Bluff-based nonprofit is only just the beginning.

Planning for future events is underway as the organization looks to engage more with the community, Bernie’s Book Bank CEO Darrin Utynek said.

“We really want to put an emphasis on the children,” he said. “Obviously, they’ve been impacted by the pandemic like everyone. We’re just trying to put some smiles on people’s faces.”

The organization (www.berniesbookbank.org) launched a “Change Their Story” campaign last year in response to the pandemic. The effort encouraged donors to donate $12 to provide 12 books for an underserved child.

Since the campaign began, more than 1.8 million books have been handed out at a time when they were most needed, Utynek said.

The organization is the leading provider of new and gently used children’s books to underserved children in the Chicago area, including many children in Lake County. According to statistics provided by Bernie’s Book Bank, two out of three low-income children have no books of their own.

“We knew there was a literary crisis prior to the pandemic, but the pandemic really exasperated that for the children we serve,” Utynek said. “We were needed more now than ever. We really decided to put the mission first.”

That mission is to increase book ownership among children and encourage them to embrace the fun and magic of storybooks.

Hosted at Bernie’s Book Bank in Lake Bluff, the Storybook Festival featured a costume parade, food, frozen treats, music and a performance by nationally known story performer Chris Fascione, who has a one-man show “Bringing Literature to Life!”

Other activities for children and their families included visits with storybook characters such as Pete the Cat, Rainbow Fish, Madeline, Belle, Curious George, the Man in the Yellow Hat, Piggie and Elephant.

K-9 Reading Buddies of the North Shore offered families the chance to read books to certified therapy dogs, and children’s author Therese Van Ryne read her book “Zippy’s Special Gift.” Musicians from School of Rock in Libertyville provided live performances throughout the day.

The event drew at least 200 people, Utynek said. All followed mask and safety guidelines.

Proceeds benefited the efforts of Bernie’s Book Bank to increase book ownership among underserved children throughout the Chicago area.

“We were really pleased with the outcome, and we can only grow from there,” he said. “We see this as being an event we can replicate here, but one that we also can take on the road.”

Along with future storybook festivals, Bernie’s Book Bank looks to host other creative events, such as the Birdies & Books Charity Golf Classic on Aug. 30 at Shoreacres in Lake Bluff and a performance by country music artist Trey Taylor in October.

“We really have kind of reevaluated how we do special events and fundraising events,” Utynek said. “Because of the ingenuity of our team, we’ve got a variety of different events that I think will have something for everyone. … We’ve changed a lot of different things because we’ve had to, but you have to find silver linings in the pandemic, and I think that’s one of them.”

The organization looks to welcome back volunteers in mid to late June, Utynek said. It had to restrict distribution to employees only during the pandemic. Bernie’s Book Bank usually has about 40,000 to 45,000 volunteers on an annual basis.

When the pandemic began, about 2 million books remained in-house and needed to be distributed. The organization didn’t know where future donations would come from or if they would come at all, but efforts were focused on simply getting those books out, Utynek said.

The group’s 31 team members went to work.

“We were hearing loud and clear from our partners we needed to get those books out,” Utynek said. “If that was the end of our run, so be it, because we felt so strongly in our mission.”

He didn’t know what to expect from supporters and donors as the pandemic progressed, but not only did they step up, they went above and beyond, he said.

“We were very fortunate to have that happen,” he said.

For information or to volunteer, donate or receive books, visit www.berniesbookbank.org.