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Happy New Year!

By February 5, 2019January 13th, 2020Support

Our new year began with a bang in the form of a $1000 grant from First Book and Whataburger!

First Book is an organization that makes new books and educational materials available to non-profits at incredibly reduced prices (Book Marketplace) or for free (Book Bank – only pay shipping charges).  Because we ordered from the Book Bank, we were informed about the grants that Whataburger was awarding in the form of gift certificates to First Book. We applied and are so honored to have been chosen to receive one of the $1000 grants! This will supplement our book fair selections with books that are in high demand, like non-fiction titles about dinosaurs and sharks!

It’s because of your support through donations, volunteering, and getting the word out to your friends and family (you can like us on Facebook now) that Book Drive for Kids gave over 4,000 children a book of their own in 2018. We are going strong into 2019 as you continue to share this important work with your friends and community members!

Here are the highlights from December:

Almost 1,000 students received a free book at Book Drive for Kids Book Fairs at Life School – Lancaster and Life School – Oak Cliff. One teacher was almost in tears as she watched her students get so excited over books! She wanted to give each of them a book for Christmas but did not have the resources. She was so grateful Book Drive for Kids could give that gift to her students.

Lamb of God Preschool families in Flower Mound held their second annual Book Donation Drive and donated 250 books.  These sweet, young children are sharing their books with those who don’t have books.

Utopia Food & Fitness customers in Southlake donated 225 books in just three weeks. We were so excited to receive many Christmas book donations just before the December book fairs!

You can now support Book Drive for Kids through your regular grocery shopping! Just list Book Drive for Kids as your designated charity on your Tom Thumb Good Neighbor Card OR as your Community Rewards partner at Kroger.

With funds from the Belk Charity Sale fundraiser in November, we were able to purchase non-fiction books at the Scholastic Warehouse Sale to supplement our own inventory. Having a wide selection of books is especially important for reluctant readers. The data says when children choose a book on their own they are far more likely to finish reading it and an enthusiasm for reading is ignited.

At the book fairs in December, our volunteers made a short FB video. Check it out on our Facebook page.

One of the fun things about working in the realm of education is that you get to celebrate New Year’s TWICE a year! We celebrate and plan as we enter the school year. Then do it again at the start of the calendar year. As we look back over 2018, we are amazed at all the good work that has been done with such a small group of amazing donors and volunteers. Thank you for giving the gift of literacy!

Michelle & Nicol

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