Partnering for Literacy:
Bringing Books Directly to Local Families
As a child, I always loved going back to school—the excitement of seeing friends, the thrill of new challenges, and the pure anticipation of learning something new.
What does “Back to School” conjure up for you?
For many children in our community, heading back to class brings mixed emotions. While they look forward to seeing their friends, reading and learning can feel like a steep uphill battle. Many lack the basic resources—like having books at home or a parent with time to read to them—that so many of us enjoyed growing up.
With the cost of living continuing to soar, the expense of basic school supplies can feel daunting for struggling families.
That’s where Book Drive for Kids steps in.
This summer, and throughout the back-to-school season, we’ve provided thousands of free books to local students. There is nothing quite like watching a child’s eyes light up as they browse through titles, picking out the perfect book, knowing they’ll have something of their very own to pull out of their backpack when quiet reading time begins.
Why Your Support Matters
In a recent survey of the schools we serve, 75% of educators reported that their students have fewer than 10 books at home—and some have none at all.
To tackle this gap, we launched our Literacy Connection Initiative, partnering with local organizations to bring books directly to low-income families and struggling readers. Thanks to these strategic partnerships, we’ve distributed over 17,000 new and gently used books just this past school year!
Here are just a few highlights from our recent Back to School efforts:
Early Literacy Support: Preschool providers across the metroplex “shopped” our collection for gently used books to foster early reading habits at home.
LISD Back to School Event: At an event serving 3,500 district students, we hosted a free book fair and gave away over 1,200 books. Plus, thanks to South State Bank and bankers Anna, Jennifer, Tabatha, and Stephen, every kindergarten and first-grade student took home a bag of four brand-new books (including bilingual options!).
Mrs. Karen’s Community Closet: On August 1st, we helped provide hundreds of Lewisville’s youngest students with backpacks filled with supplies and fun Disney books.
Partners in Opportunity: Krista Lamb selected 153 books for a special father-child event, where kids built their own bookshelves and picked five new books to display on them.
Whether we are supporting a district-wide event or helping a single family, our mission remains the same: ensuring EVERY child has a home library of at least 20 books.
Stay tuned as we continue to partner with you in building a culture of literacy in our community!
