Our mission is to promote literacy in Central Texas by providing books to disadvantaged youth at free book fairs.
THE NEED
We know that disadvantaged children have a lack of access to books in their homes and as a result are significantly behind their peers academically.
The Literacy Project reveals a stark disparity in book ownership:
-
Affluent Families – 13 books per child
-
Low-Income Families – 1 book per 300 children
This gap is a driving force behind our program.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Our aim is to help students who have limited access to books at home get introduced to the joy of reading and improve their reading skills by creating their own home libraries.
OUR METHOD
We partner with Title I public schools to provide a FREE school wide book fair. Each student gets to pick one book to add to their home library. The key here is choice. The students get to choose the book for themselves based on their interests and reading level and as a result are more likely to read it!
We also provide books to children in foster care, teen moms, and students living at the Texas Baptist Children’s Home.
Title 1 School Partners:
- Austin Achieve schools;
- KIPP schools;
- Cedars International Academy; and
- Del Valle ISD.
Partners Serving Foster Care Youth:
- Austin Angels;
- Central Texas Table of Grace;
- Isaiah 117 House; and
- Learning Bridge.
Partners Serving At-Risk Youth:
- Austin Sunshine Camp;
- the Texas Baptist Children’s Home; and
- Young Lives.
TO DATE, BOOK DRIVE FOR KIDS AUSTIN HAS
BOOKS GIVEN
24,056
TOTAL BOOKS GIVEN
12,765
SCHOOL BOOK FAIRS
5869
TITLE I - SCHOOL LIBRARY
1258
HOME LIBRARIES
SERVED
10,053
TOTAL CHILDREN SERVED
1,451
CHILDREN in FOSTER CARE
8243
STUDENTS at TITLE 1 SCHOOLS
475
AT-RISK STUDENTS
AT
50
EVENTS
GET INVOLVED
We are currently in need of the following:
- New or gently used books
- Cash donations to buy books in volume
- In-demand books purchased off our Amazon Wish List
- Usborne or Home Depot boxes
- Handmade bookmarks
- Volunteers to work at book fairs
If you have books to donate in Austin, please reach out to Brooke at [email protected] to arrange a drop off or book pick up.
