By MATT CHANDLER
mchandler@bizjournals.com | 716-541-1654

More than 6,000 children pass through the doors of Erie County Family Court annually. While relatives are inside the courtroom, the youngsters have fun in the YWCA Family Court Children's Center.

In addition to providing a safe, supervised place to play while their guardians tend to legal issues, the YWCA sends each child home with a book at the end of their visit.

Now the YWCA wants to collect more new and gently used books to re-stock its giving collection. One local group has stepped up and, with the help of members, is working to make a difference during the holiday season.

The Buffalo chapter of the Association of Legal Administrators plans to collect books through the end of the month and possibly longer, according to chapter President Denise Peebles.

"This was something that I knew we wanted to help with as soon as I saw the press release from the YMCA," she said. "We hear every single day about how bad our schools are in Buffalo and all of the issues we have, and this Is one small way we can help."

Though the local chapter of the ALA is relatively small, Peebles said the 36 members are reaching out to their respective firms for help, as well as into the broader legal and business community.

Susan Bryant is office manager at the law offices of Mattar D'Agostino & Gottlieb LLP and president-elect of the Buffalo chapter of the ALA. She said that each year, the group selects a charitable effort to support. Working to provide books for the children through the YWCA and the Family Court was an obvious choice.

"We want to be able to give back to the community in any way we can," she said. "This is such a great opportunity to help out these kids and give them something positive."

Bryant said the community outreach is also a way to grow the ALA, which offers support to Wesztern New York legal administrators.

"We want to be out there in the community so that the law firms can see what we are doing and we can hopefully grow our membership," she said. "We want people to see that we don't just meet and have lunch - that we are out there doing important things."

The group will be collecting books through Nov. 30. Peebles said they will consider continuing the collection into December.

To make a book donation for babies through age 12, contact Peebles at 853-6001, ext. 406, or via email at dpeebles@wilderandlinneball.com.