Spring into Reading Book Sorting

Help us finish sorting the books we collect from our Spring into Reading Book Drive! The book drive took place this March 2019 in celebration of National Reading Month. We sought to collect 5,000 new and gently used books from March 1-21 for area children and young adults. The books have been picked up and delivered to United Way where we need volunteers to finish will sorting them into the appropriate age groups and prepare them for delivery.  

These books will the be distributed through area home visiting programs, head start programs, area shelters, strategic businesses, area food pantries and targeted agencies to get books in kid’s hands during summer months. We will also use the books to add a ‘Read Up’ component to summer ‘Meet up, Eat Up’ sites in Berrien and Cass counties. “Meet Up, Eat Up’ sites are part of the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) from the USDA, that ensures low-income children continue to receive nutritious meals when school is not in session. The population this program serves is one that can greatly benefit from sending books with them to their homes. One of the best ways to impact educational attainment for children in low income communities is to develop their reading skills. To develop those skills, children are encouraged to read at home, however many children living in poverty in the U.S. do not have access to books at their homes.