A Langham local Marissa North, 42, has been balancing life as a new mum while raising money for charity and creating adult and children's book boxes – all for the love of reading! 

Marissa's business, Pear Tree Books, is a branch of the nationwide, book-passionate company, Usborne Books. 

Prior to this, Marissa was a virtual PA, but she said: "The hours were random and the work can be demanding. It didn't fit in with having a young son."

She decided to started the business after having her son, who was born just two days before the UK went into full lockdown. 

Despite this, she managed to get the young venture on its feet in May 2021.

This mid-pandemic career change was made with the intent of taking her pop-up book shop to Rutland Show, but like so many events, that too was cancelled and left Marissa and Pear Tree Books feeling a little bit lost.

Not to be knocked down, the resilient Marissa set to work finding other local fairs and fetes and charitable causes to help her share her love of reading. 

She thought of alternatives, such as the monthly Art and Crafts Market based in Gaol Street with her pop-up bookshop. Marissa also attended lots of Christmas fayres in December, selling the gift of stories to many a family over the festive period.  

Alongside that, Marissa has also set up an adult and child's book club. Those signing up to the book club get a personalised box of literary goodies addressed directly to them. This can be sent as a one off gift to the best child you know, or can be a regular subscription to keep you reading something different. 

Marissa smiled: "I am trying to get as many books into the hands of children as possible!"

Her enthusiasm does not stop there though. Marissa has also been working with Langham school to raise funds for their school library: "I want to do more work with schools to help get books to children. Charity work has always been a big part of my life and I didn't want to give that up. 

"I spoke to Langham School about raising money for the school library, and we began planning something really exciting."

To raise the funds to donate to the school library, Marissa set up a virtual Christmas market and charged stall holders £5 each to sell their wares. All money raised this way was donated to the school. 

She also contacted local businesses asking them to pledge funds to get kids reading, which Marissa said "had a great response. Osprey gave £50 and Langton Homes gave £100!

"Through all of these efforts, we raised a total of £200 for books, which was great. The nice thing about Usborne is that they donate 10% on top of that for any school-based fundraisers, so they added another £20.

"£220 can buy you a lot of books, especially in January when there are lots of offers and sales on. It meant that, ultimately, the school got over £420 worth of books for their kids.:

Now that the first birthday of her new business is approaching, Marissa is hoping to get even more involved with her local community: "I would like to do more work with school and have begun contacting other establishments to get involved. Essentially, through this work, the schools get something for nothing. With school resources are so stretched, this is something that they really need and are often really grateful for."

Marissa has a long list of ambitions, but a few of the things she wants to try out next as sponsored reading with the schools or getting local people and business to donate books, or money for books. 

Anyone wishing to donate or sponsor more books for schools can contact Marissa via her Facebook page, Pear Tree Books. 

Alternatively, if you are looking for the next great book to get you back into reading, Marissa can offer assistance over the phone: 07944 374018. 

Visitors can browse her collection of books and she can also order specific titles if she doesn't have that special page turner in stock - so just ask.

Marissa concluded: "People's faces light up when they see 'the' book. I love reading with my toddler, who has just turned 2, and I hope I can inspire that same love of reading in him and other young people."

Find Marissa's young business on Pear Tree Books – in Partnership with Usborne. 

Alternatively, check out the other fundraising efforts going on in Rutland by the likes of David Cadman, who is currently organising his 70th birthday 70 mile triathlon! Find out how you can get involved here. 

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