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Sep 15
Love0

Books “Fly Like an Eagle” thanks to a local Eagle Service Project

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“I want to share the power of literacy to kids in underprivileged communities. Learning to read and write will allow these kids to have more opportunities in life.”
– Camden McGregor, Eagle Scout Troop 842

A significant project lay ahead for Camden! The Eagle Scout Service Project.

After years of earning merit badges, doing service projects, and learning survival and nature skills, Camden McGregor was now ready for the project to crown all projects…his Eagle Scout Service Project. It took months to research organizations, brainstorm ideas, and finally, to select a project that represents something dear to his own heart. He decided literacy and books was it.

When Camden reached out to Book Drive for Kids, we had just heard about Young Living Stones, a group based in Del Rio, Texas, that was working with both kids and adults on both sides of the border.  As the pandemic unfolded, Young Living Stones started supporting area teachers who were offering tutoring programs as schools nearly halted for many families, exacerbating the already low education levels and needs for family income. To build reading skills, children must have books!  Book Drive for Kids immediately sent books, both in Spanish and English, to support these efforts and we connected Camden with Young Living Stones to provide additional help.

Camden soon got to work. He led several volunteer teams in fundraising via community car wash, building four bookshelves for the tutoring program, and conducting a month-long book drive. He was able to donate $550 for new books and 1,000 gently used books to fill those shelves. As Providence would have it, Shon Young from Young Living Stones was in Dallas for an event just one week after Camden finished his project so the gift presentation was in-person.

When Camden presented his gifts to Shon, he inspired others at the event to give an additional $500 for new books in Spanish.  You can imagine the excitement for all of us at Book Drive for Kids and Young Living Stones as these books travel to the border so that these children will “have more opportunities in life” just as Camden hoped.

You may not have an Eagle Project to complete, but you can get involved, too.
Volunteer or Donate today!

#BetterTogether #KidsHelpingKids #BookDriveforKids
#ReadingRocks #LiteracyMatters

Sep 13
Love0

Thrift Books gift & Warehouse Volunteers

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How do you give away 50,000 books?   It takes COLLABORATION & COOPERATION.

Last year Thrift Books committed 50,000 books to Book Drive for Kids, and we saw a huge opportunity right before our very eyes! Arriving 1,000 books at a time, in giant boxes called gaylords, we knew getting these books ready for distribution was a job for some energetic volunteers.

Who could we call?

The Young Men’s Service League, Home School Honor Society, and individual volunteers have been ready and willing to jump right in.  Literally!   They have consistently helped by crawling in these huge boxes and unpacked, sorted, and categorized these books. It’s not a job for the faint of heart…especially in a warehouse during the summer months in Texas! What an amazing effort and help they have been.

And their labor has not been in vain!

Check out how this enormous donation is spreading across North Texas, and placing books in the hearts and homes of children.

  1. Read Play Talk – given away at events and classes with parents
  2. Child Care Group – given away at events with parents
  3. Lovepacs – Lewisville – included in holiday food packs
  4. Communities in Schools – given to school counselors
  5. Children’s Advocacy Center – given away with Christmas gifts
  6. Reading Partners – used in their tutoring program
  7. Pedia Place – given to their counselors
  8. Blue Halo Ranch – stocked their secret reading room
  9. Christ Child Society at St Phillip’s – donated to their free book fair & new mother bags
  10. Noggin Educational STEM camps – given to camp participants
  11. New teachers for classroom libraries

If you know of a group that serves disadvantaged children who would benefit from gently-used children’s books, contact us. Join in the Race for Impact – and help us get books into the hearts and homes of children in need.

Sep 02
Love0

Reading: critical to a child’s success

By General No Comments

What is one of the greatest predictors of kindergarten success?

It’s not family wealth or education. It’s not the child’s zip code or race.

Any other guesses?

If you guessed, the number of books read to a child, you’re right!  Daily conversation is a plus, too. Some of my favorite memories are snuggling on the couch with my young children and a stack of books. We learned about faraway lands, laughed at funny characters, and dreamed about visiting exotic places and meeting new people. Books have this sort of magic that bring new words, pictures, and experiences into a child’s life. They provide “hooks” where future knowledge attaches and grows.

Unfortunately, thousands of children in North Texas live in “book deserts”. They are missing out  on making these great memories and enjoying sparks of curiosity. When Nicol and I heard this, we knew we had to do something about it. We could see the impact easy access to books had given our own children and believe every child should experience the joy of reading at home with books they love.

This is why Book Drive for Kids exists: to gift books to children who want and need books at home. Because of generous donors like you, Book Drive for Kids provided over 30,000 books to children who would not have them.

Smiles, hugs, and excitement greet each volunteer at our free book fairs. Happy teachers express appreciation over and over. Book Drive for Kids free book fairs help to build a bridge from school to home that encourages reading for fun. With your help, the sky’s the limit to how many kids we can spread the love of reading and bring hope into their lives with a book and the expression of love that comes with it.

Give a Book. Change a Life.

Donate or volunteer today.

#BookDriveforKids
#ReadingRocks
#LiteracyMatters
#BetterTogether
#GiveABookChangeALife

Jun 28
Love0

Have You Heard of Thrift Books?!

By General No Comments

Have you heard of Thrift Books?

They are the largest online retailer of used books in the United States. They started in 2003 by selling used books through Amazon and have grown into an amazing online store with six distribution centers across the United States.

Last year during the Race to Kindness, we were invited to tour their Dallas distribution center and meet some of their book-loving leaders. We soon learned that we share a great love of literacy and the belief that finding homes for books was a great quest! Sharing books among other bibliophiles not only allows us to read more but salvages books from the landfill.

As a result of these conversations, we are pleased to announce that Book Drive for Kids is partnering with Thrift Books in several ways to accomplish our mission of getting more books into the hands of those who need them.

  • Thrift Books has committed to donating 50,000 books to Book Drive for Kids over the next year as part of the Race to Kindness. This influx of book inventory is propelling us into an even greater level of outreach as we are able to channel these books into multiple literacy outreaches, Child Care Group, Read Play Talk and a summer reading program as far away as Lynch, Kentucky.
  • Book Drive for Kids was the beneficiary of Thrift Books Cares gift of $38,800 from their Giving Tuesday initiative. As you can imagine, with this growth comes the need to invest in tools to help us do a better job such as new donation boxes, bookmarks, and transportation.
  • Book Drive for Kids has entered a profit-sharing program with Thrift Books, like local libraries utilize. When we receive books we cannot use, we are able to ship them to Thrift Books for some remuneration. This enables us to accept ALL book donations. So send us your books!
  • Book Drive for Kids ALSO has an affiliate partnership with Thrift Books. When you purchase a book from ThriftBooks through this link, we will receive a portion of the profits.

We are truly honored and excited about these new opportunities to reach even more children with a love for books!

You can be a part of this great adventure by purchasing books through our affiliate link with Thrift Books AND by donating any gently used book to Book Drive for Kids.

Nov 04
Love0

Virtual Book Fair

By General No Comments

Books are gifts that can be opened again and again!

Get your holiday shopping wrapped up at Usborne Books at Home’s Virtual Book Fair…www.williamsbookreads.org. Free shipping on orders of $100+ ends November 7.

50% of your purchase helps us to earn free books for our organization. Please share this email with your friends & family to help us reach our goal.

WHY BOOKS IN THE HOME MATTER…

Studies confirm that the number of books in the home directly predicts reading achievement. Children who grew up with books in their homes reached a higher level of education than those who did not.1

After studying statistics from 27 nations, a group of researchers found the presence of book-lined shelves in the home… gives children an enormous advantage in school!

“Home library size has a very substantial effect on educational attainment, even adjusting for parents’ education, father’s occupational status and other family background characteristics,” reports the study.

“Growing up in a home with 500 books would propel a child 3.2 years further in education, on average, than would growing up in a similar home with few or no books.

“Regardless of how many books the family already has, each addition to a home library helps the children get a little farther in school…”2

1. https://www.firstbook.org/images/pdf/Statics-on-Literacy.pdf
2. study published in the journal Research in Social Stratification and Mobility – psmag.com/education/home-libraries-provide-huge-educational-advantage-14212

Thank you for supporting Book Drive for Kids.

Michelle & Nicol

Apr 08
Love0

Got Books?

By General No Comments

Want to make a difference?
Be part of something life-changing?

Join Book Drive for Kids’ Share A Book Initiative!

April 23rd is World Book Day. What better way to celebrate than to ensure all children have books in their homes! In the DFW area, there are more than 630,000 economically disadvantaged children with few, if any, books in their homes. Whether it’s due to financial hardship, speaking a language other than English, or the challenges presented by recent COVID school closures, many children are without the resources they need to learn how to read and succeed in school. By encouraging reading for fun, children strengthen reading skills, build self-confidence, tap into their imagination, and learn about the people and world around them. These opportunities are lost when a child lacks access to books.

Flower Mound resident Mehgan DeProspero and her daughter Samantha were the FIRST Share-A-Book Day leaders during last year’s initiative. “It made my heart glad when Sammy heard about your book fairs, she jumped right up to find books she could donate,” Mehgan said. They sent an email to friends and neighbors and collected 76 gently-used books and monetary donations which were then shared with local children during a Book Drive for Kids Free Book Fair.

Imagine the impact if YOU joined with 100 other people to Share-A-Book! That would be SOOO many books! Help us meet our goal of 100 Share-A-Book Day leaders.

Together we can make a difference, one book at a time. Check out the Share A Book Initiative.

We can be the change we want to see in the world….simply by sharing a book.

Jan 20
Love2

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

By General

Christmas really is the most wonderful time of the year. A time of giving, sharing hope, and extending goodwill towards all. This past Christmas was no different.

As we know, 2020 was a difficult year that presented many new challenges. One challenge, in particular, was the effect of Covid on schools and how they educate students. Many children were schooling via Zoom and really missed the benefits of being in-person with their teachers and classmates. Children in the lower economic areas were especially impacted as they lacked access to educational and technological resources (like books at home!) many of us take for granted. This disruption in education continues to place additional stress on teachers and parents. Schools and administrators are seeking ways to support their students and meet the need of this desperate situation.

Principal Rebecca Rodriguez leads a school that faced this challenge. She reached out to her local church and asked for help. She wanted to collect books to gift her 540, Kindergarten and First Grade, students. Most of her students are ESL learners whose families live at or below the poverty line. Their lives were greatly impacted by the added difficulties of the Covid pandemic. Her heart was to give each child a book of their very own, a luxury most did not have. The need was great and time was short… they needed a Christmas Miracle!

Through a personal connection at her local church, Book Drive for Kids heard of the school’s plea. The need resonated with us because it is the heart of our organization … to get books into the hands of disadvantaged students. Book Drive for Kids was excited about the opportunity and accepted the challenge. What makes this opportunity extra special is that Principal Rodriquez’s school is in Peekskill, New York! Almost 1,400 miles away! In less than 5 hours, Book Drive for Kids heard the need, coordinated with the church partner, and ordered the books. A special thanks to one of our partners, First Book for their role in providing low-cost books to disadvantaged children and for shipping this order so quickly. This truly was a team effort!

Our Christmas Miracle – 600 brand new children’s books were on their way!

The school was thrilled by the response to their plea and shocked this gift was coming from Lewisville, Texas! Principal Rodriquez was so grateful and sent Book Drive for Kids a heartfelt thank you.

“Your donation made it possible to create an event that not only brought joy and levity to this challenging season but provided students with a beautiful gift that will continue to support their academic journeys as readers.” She went on to add, “Your efforts are nothing short of amazing! You intervened at a time when we needed you most and we are most grateful for your partnership, love, and care.”

Book Drive for Kids also received a kind letter from the Peekskill City School Superintendent. Dr. David Mauricio thanked us for our gift which helped their district uphold their tenets of “nurturing the ‘whole child’ and providing culturally responsive academics.”

What a joy and privilege it was to bring a Christmas Miracle to students across the country. This would not have been possible without our amazing donors, who enable Book Drive for Kids to be ready with resources to respond so quickly to needs like this. Thank you for turning a desperate plea into a true Miracle.

To quote Dr. Seuss, “Christmas will always be as long as we stand heart to heart and hand in hand.” Blessing children and sharing hope isn’t limited to Christmas.

Watch your in-box for more news about exciting events coming in 2021. Happy New Year!!

Nov 10
Love0

Belk Charity Sale

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Start your Christmas shopping with a $5 gift for YOU and a $5 gift for Book Drive for Kids!!

The Belk Charity Sales starts this week! Purchase your $5 ticket and Belk will donate that $5 to Book Drive for Kids and give YOU $10 off your purchase this week during the Belk Charity Sale.

The average cost for a NEW book for us is $3! What a great way to gift TWO (almost) new books to needy children while shopping at a discount at Belk!

Use the Belk Charity Ticket at ANY Belk store or online. When purchasing the ticket, choose the Flower Mound, Texas, location, and Book Drive for Kids will be listed. All of these funds go directly to Book Drive for Kids immediately! 

Thank you for your support!

Merry Christmas!

Michelle & Nicol

Nov 04
Love0

Kickoff ‘20-’21

By General, What's Happening

2020 is a year for the record books for Book Drive for Kids! Not just because we have survived a world-wide pandemic but because in the middle of COVID-19, we set all kinds of records. 

  • 9,660 kids were able to select a book of their choice
  • 10,950 books were given away to children and classroom libraries
  • 23 Free Bookfairs were held across the state of Texas
  • $10,000 gift (the biggest ever received!) from Regions Bank
  • 26 volunteers accomplished all of these mile markers

No doubt, 2020 has been one of the most turbulent years in recent history, yet when you read the Community Impact Statement of Book Drive for Kids, we know that the spirit to care for one another is alive and well! Perhaps now, more than ever, we appreciate the simple things, like a book, a friend, and a smile.  These are the very “things” that make Book Drive for Kids so special. We are a community of friends sharing a book and a smile in hopes of making new friends!

On Friday, October 16, donors, volunteers, and guests joined together to celebrate the accomplishments of this past year and look forward to expanding our initiatives in Denton County. We celebrated Regions Bank’s gift of $10,000, which provided the matching portion of a grant from Reading is Fundamental, opening up almost 6,000 NEW books for our free book fairs. This gift provides almost full funding to our base operations in Dallas county.   

The Challenge to our Denton County friends 

In the cities of Denton, Lewisville, and Flower Mound, there are eleven schools whose student population is 70% economically disadvantaged.  Additionally, 30-50% of the students in several of these schools have not yet passed the English proficiency test. These children are our neighbors. We shop at Walmart and Kroger together. Yet, unlike many Denton county homes, these children have few, if any, books in their homes. For these families, the purchase of a book is a luxury purchase. How can they build the vocabulary they need to achieve success at school when they lack books at home?

Book Drive for Kids is here to help overcome these obstacles. YOU can play an integral part!

We are seeking donations of new and gently-used children’s books as well as monetary donations so that we can bring free book fairs to each and every one of these schools.

At the Kickoff ‘20-’21, our generous donors fully funded a free bookfair for Central Elementary to be held this Spring. Other donors gifted books so Lillie Jackson’s Early Childhood Center could hold their fair.  That’s two schools down, 9 more to go.

How can you get involved?

When each of us does our part, together we can spared hope, love, and laughter to the children in our community!

Apr 02
Love0

Share a Book Day

By General No Comments

OUR RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Book Drive for Kids has already completed most of our scheduled free book fairs this school year. We hope to be able to hold our final three free book fairs at the end of May to launch summer reading emphasis here in Denton County.

It is an understatement to say that all of our lives are filled with uncertainty and change. Our educational system is just one of those areas to experience tremendous disruption. Thousands of children and teachers have abruptly switched to online or distance learning, including my own two high schoolers. We had to create study space, set-up devices, and find a whole new schedule!

For children in low-income homes this creates additional hurdles. Some don’t have easy internet access, separate dedicated study space, and/or learning tools & supplies at home. Many of their parents struggle to help with academic lessons due to working or their own weak educational experiences. The COVID-19 crisis highlights the need to have children’s books IN THEIR HOMES.

That’s where YOU can help!

Book Drive for Kids has already been contacted by organizations and schools interested in getting books into the hands of their students in need. Since we are all sequestered at home, now is a great time to help those books your kids have outgrown find a new home.

April 23rd is World Book Day. In celebration, Book Drive for Kids is launching the Share A Book initiative. Together we fulfill our mission: to create a culture of literacy by providing books to disadvantaged children for independent reading.

HOW?

  1. Download the Share A Book digital flier at https://bookdriveforkids.com/shareabook/.
  2. Distribute electronically to your friends and neighbors, identifying your front porch as a drop-site.
  3. Share a picture of your Share A Book Day collection at #ShareABookDay and/or #BookDrive4Kids.
  4. Once you have collected your books, complete the Share A Book Day form at https://bookdriveforkids.com/shareabook/ and we will contact you to pick up your donations.
  5. You will receive recognition of your participation. This event can count as community service hours.

Book Donations

We accept donations of new books, targeted at children preK to 6th grade. Visit our Amazon Wish List of high demand book titles.

We also accept donations of gently-used books, targeted for children preK to 6th grade. They should be in good condition and without water damage. They cannot be torn or annotated. Limited writing, such as a name, can be covered with the Book Drive for Kids bookplates.

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