Congratulations to Pam Lessard, one of our 20 Outstanding Women of 2026!
Listen to Pam’s full interview with Blake and Kelly below:
Pam Leo is the founder of the Book Fairy Pantry Project. Through her vision and dedication, Pam created a compassionate and practical model that addresses literacy inequity while supporting children and families across communities.
The Book Fairy Pantry Project is grounded in the belief that every child deserves access to books at home. Recognizing that many families experiencing food insecurity also lack children’s books, Pam developed an innovative approach that places free, donated books in food pantries and community support locations. By bringing books to spaces families already trust, the program removes barriers and ensures children can easily access reading materials.
Volunteers collect, sort, and distribute thousands of age-appropriate books each year, empowering parents to choose books and encouraging shared reading at home. Pam has also expanded the project with initiatives like 100 Stories Before First Grade and the 100 Places Summer Reading Challenge, helping make reading joyful and accessible.
