Book Gift Program
Through the generous donations of partners such as First Book, Discover Books, Better World Books, plus local churches, businesses and schools, Book Gifts are distributed to entire grade levels of students in Title I schools, ICM Food and Clothing Bank, N.O.A.H. Community Health Clinics, and UMOM New Day Centers.
Program History
The Book Gifts Program distributed 27,018 books during the 2015/2016 school year; with a total of 241,548 gifted since this program began in 2005/06.
Who Does The Program Serve?
Our Book Gifts Program first priority is to serve entire grade levels of students in Title I schools within the Phoenix core area. Our focus is on those schools with extremely high percentages (average = 92%) of students’ families qualifying for free or reduced lunch; and selected schools are also the most academically challenged. Teachers are able to incorporate introductory classroom activities prior to sending the personal book gifts home to be shared with families. These distributions of brand new books are made possible through grants from First Book, Washington D.C. Collections of gently used books often serve to support after school remedial classes or adult and family literacy nights.
A newer responsibility since 2014-2015 is to obtain, label, and sort by grade level new books to provide a selection for each child dressed by our Operation School Bell Program (approx. 8,000/year.) The committee also provides appropriate books for each Wee Help Program bag (500 baby board books/year.)
In addition to public K-8 schools and ALP programs, we also foster partnering relationships with other worthy facilities which provide services to the public with very basic needs (“working poor”.) Through the support of valued sponsors, we are able to deliver a literacy component to enhance the other organizations’ efforts. Examples:
* ICM Food and Clothing Bank -- Provides an immediate response to basic human needs for families in need, seniors on a fixed income, and the mentally and physically disabled. For our organization to periodically provide a stock of books for waiting children to take home is a special bonus. Often the recipient has never owned a book before! We have made available significant book donations for their summer lunch project and also as holiday gifts. Book gifts are also warmly received by the adult clients.
* NOAH Community Health Clinics – They report literacy continues to be a key focus for them during well child visits at the health clinic. Their providers discuss the importance of reading; and books are always given to the child and any siblings.
* UMOM New Day Centers -- Their services are designed to break the cycle of homelessness. The shelter/housing situations, early childhood development center, programs promoting workforce development, and chapel offer many opportunities to share appropriate reading materials with residents of all ages.
Every book gifted carries a bookplate with the name/logo of Assistance League and a contributing donor if appropriate.
A newer responsibility since 2014-2015 is to obtain, label, and sort by grade level new books to provide a selection for each child dressed by our Operation School Bell Program (approx. 8,000/year.) The committee also provides appropriate books for each Wee Help Program bag (500 baby board books/year.)
In addition to public K-8 schools and ALP programs, we also foster partnering relationships with other worthy facilities which provide services to the public with very basic needs (“working poor”.) Through the support of valued sponsors, we are able to deliver a literacy component to enhance the other organizations’ efforts. Examples:
* ICM Food and Clothing Bank -- Provides an immediate response to basic human needs for families in need, seniors on a fixed income, and the mentally and physically disabled. For our organization to periodically provide a stock of books for waiting children to take home is a special bonus. Often the recipient has never owned a book before! We have made available significant book donations for their summer lunch project and also as holiday gifts. Book gifts are also warmly received by the adult clients.
* NOAH Community Health Clinics – They report literacy continues to be a key focus for them during well child visits at the health clinic. Their providers discuss the importance of reading; and books are always given to the child and any siblings.
* UMOM New Day Centers -- Their services are designed to break the cycle of homelessness. The shelter/housing situations, early childhood development center, programs promoting workforce development, and chapel offer many opportunities to share appropriate reading materials with residents of all ages.
Every book gifted carries a bookplate with the name/logo of Assistance League and a contributing donor if appropriate.
Partners
Thank you to the following donors who have helped the Book Gifts Program achieve its goals:
All Saints Lutheran Church
Better World Books
Desert Schools Credit Union
Discover Books
First Book
Living Water Lutheran Church
Usborne Books
Individual donors
All Saints Lutheran Church
Better World Books
Desert Schools Credit Union
Discover Books
First Book
Living Water Lutheran Church
Usborne Books
Individual donors
Program Contact
Sue Brash, Book Gifts Program Coordinator
suebrash7@gmail.com
602-944-7636
Note to Volunteers: As large grants and donations arrive, labelers are needed on many Tuesdays beginning at 9:30 a.m. into the afternoon. Email: Sue to check if work is scheduled.
suebrash7@gmail.com
602-944-7636
Note to Volunteers: As large grants and donations arrive, labelers are needed on many Tuesdays beginning at 9:30 a.m. into the afternoon. Email: Sue to check if work is scheduled.