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Thousands of free books filled the Lorton Community Center on March 14 as children, families and educators stocked their home and classroom libraries during the third annual “Reading Opens the World” event.

The national literacy campaign, organized by the Federation of Teachers in partnership with First Book, has distributed millions of books nationwide. The effort aims to expand access to reading materials for students and families while helping educators and school staff build classroom collections.

Books spanning numerous genres and reading levels covered the community center’s gym. Visitors also enjoyed snacks, music, arts and crafts, and a limited supply of boxed LEGO sets.

Eight-year-old Ella Michaelsen of Springfield began reading during the event and named the “Pizza and Taco” series as her favorite. Brothers Carter Bacon, 2, and Oliver Bacon, 5, of Burke displayed their selections, though Oliver was especially pleased with the LEGO set he received.

Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten traveled from New York to attend alongside Fairfax County AFT President Emily VanDerhoff, county supervisors and school board members. Speakers highlighted the importance of developing strong reading skills.

Mount Vernon School Board member Mateo Dunne thanked the union “for all you are doing to lift up the community with reading.”

The Fairfax chapter of the League of Women Voters also hosted an information table and answered voting questions, including those about the March 6-to-April 21 vote on a proposed Virginia constitutional amendment concerning redistricting.

First Book, founded in 1992, is a nonprofit focused on improving children’s access to quality education.