This summer, Book Drive for Kids Austin is serving 500 foster care and at-risk youth in the Austin area by giving them free books. Children in foster care typically lack access to books, with parents not being able to take them to the library or buy them books for summer reading. To bridge this gap, we host free book fairs at several summer events, ensuring that they have access to a good book and hopefully prevent the summer slide.
Last week, we kicked off our summer efforts by hosting a free outdoor book fair at Zilker Park during the Austin Sunshine Camp kickoff event. We braved the Texas heat and distributed 173 brand-new books to campers! Each camper was able to select a book to bring to camp and read during quiet time that can spark a love for reading that will last a lifetime.
Upcoming Summer Events
The Austin Chapter of Book Drive for Kids has three more exciting events planned this summer:
- Texas Baptist Children’s Home: Providing summer reading materials for children residing at the home and participating in their summer reading program.
- The Settlement Home for Children and Central Texas Table of Grace: Providing summer reading for foster care youth residing at a group home and at a foster care emergency placement center.
- Austin Angels: Providing summer reading for foster care youth attending a back-to-school event.
These events are expected to serve 500 students, offering the gift of literacy and the joy of owning their very own book. Books open doors to new worlds, foster a love for reading, and contribute to the educational success of foster care and at-risk youth.
How You Can Help
If you have a heart for foster care youth and believe in the power of books, we invite you to support our cause. Here’s how you can make a difference:
- Donate Books: Visit our Amazon Wish List and purchase a book. Each book bought will go directly to a child in need, providing them with the tools to succeed academically.
- Monetary Donations: Contributions of any size are greatly appreciated and go a long way in helping us reach more children. Your donation will be used to purchase new books and cover the costs of our free book fairs.
Your generosity can make a lasting impact on a child’s life. With your help, we can continue to bring the joy of reading to children who need it most. Thank you for supporting our mission and making a difference in the lives of foster care youth.