At CommUnityCare Health Centers, care doesn’t always come in the form of a prescription or a medical chart. Sometimes, the best medicine comes in the form of a story tucked away in a book.  

“At its core, better literacy means better health.” 

For CommUnityCare pharmacist Kathleen Garcia, her life experiences led to the observation that health and healing go hand in hand with knowledge. Early in her career, Garcia recalled a moment when she encountered a patient who mistook Ambien for blood pressure medicine because he was unable to read the labels.  

“Over the years, I have met many others facing the same challenge, individuals who struggle to understand complex instructions that could impact their health. This work is also deeply personal to me,” said Garcia. “My mother left school in the second grade and has limited reading skills. When she was diagnosed with lupus, she misunderstood her diagnosis. Moments like that have fueled my commitment to make information more clear, visual, and easy to understand.” 

Garcia sparked up a beautiful idea that has taken over the North Central Pharmacy – a free book corner. A space where patients can access the resources to build literacy skills within their medical home. What began as a small act of kindness has grown into a resource that brings joy, connection, and empowerment to patients every day. 

“I’ve seen so many beautiful moments at the book corner. Patients smile as they carefully choose books for their grandchildren, nieces, or nephews and sometimes even for themselves.” 

The idea started with Garcia setting out books she purchased herself, and they quickly became a hit. When the need outpaced what she could provide on her own, Kathleen reached out to local organizations. That’s when Half Price Books stepped up, donating boxes upon boxes filled with children’s books, young adult novels, educational titles, and even coloring books in both English and Spanish. 

“At the core of my work as a pharmacist is a belief and hope that I can help patients live their healthiest and fullest lives,” said Garcia. “This initiative reflects that belief in a powerful way. It aligns with the CommUnityCare mission to offer compassionate care that supports patients—and not just medically, but through knowledge and understanding so they can truly thrive.” 

Garcia will continue to stock the shelves with books thanks to a partnership with Half Price Books.