Archived Post: 2014
Literacy Connects is thrilled to be working with representatives from Pima County School Superintendent’s Office, Mayor Jonathan Rothschild’s Office, Pima Federal Credit Union, Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona and other community to collect more than 10,000 books for high-risk children as part of a month long “Love of Reading” celebration this February.
Community members are encouraged to:
- Collect and donate new or gently used kid’s books throughout February. Books for children in PreK-3rd grade are especially needed.
- Join the Mayor’s Reading Challenge and help promote literacy in our community.
Collected books will be redistributed to high-risk children in Pima County through Reading Seed, Head Start centers, and other organizations.
“The number of appropriate and engaging books in the home is a strong predictor of a child’s future academic achievement,” explains Tamara McKinney, Reading Seed Program Director. “That’s why free books are such an important part of the Reading Seed model.”
Reading Seed added more than 550 new volunteers to their one-on-one Coaching Program this school year, which means they also need more books to give to the struggling readers volunteers work with each week.
Last year, the program distributed more than 33,000 free books to elementary students and teachers. Reading Seed anticipates needing an additional five to ten thousand books for this year to meet the need of the students and schools they serve.
“Kids can’t love books if they don’t have any. Unfortunately, that is the case for thousands and thousands of kids in Pima County,” said Betty Stauffer, Executive Director at Literacy Connects. “By giving kids great books to read, we help open a world of possibilities and get them excited about learning. Such a simple thing can make such a huge difference.”
In addition to collecting books, guest readers will share their love of reading with pre-school age children at Head Start centers throughout Pima County. These centers currently serve 1,472 low-income students between 3 and 5 years old.
“Reading should be a fun and engaging activity between child and adult. Research has demonstrated that children who are read to and have conversations with caring adults have greater success in school and in life. We want that for every child in Pima County,” said Jaymie Jacobs from the Pima County School Superintendent’s Office.
More information and updates can be found at www.LoveofReadingTucson.com. Help us spread the word by printing and posting this flier in your neighborhood: Love of Reading Flier!
Book donations can be dropped off at the following locations until March 1, 2014:
- PIMA COUNTY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT 200 N. Stone Ave Tucson, AZ 85701
- LITERACY CONNECTS 2850 E. Speedway Blvd. Tucson, AZ 85716
- READING SEED 1920 E. Silverlake Rd. #207 Tucson, AZ 8713
- GIRL SCOUTS OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA 4300 E. Broadway Blvd. Tucson, AZ 85711
- CITY WARD 1 OFFICE 940 W. Alameda St. Tucson, AZ 85745
- CITY WARD 2 OFFICE 7575 E. Speedway Blvd. Tucson, AZ 85710
- CITY WARD 3 OFFICE 1510 E. Grant Rd. Tucson, AZ 85719
- CLEMENTS RECREATION CENTER 8155 E. Poinciana Tucson, AZ 85730
- CITY WARD 5 OFFICE 4300 South Park Ave. Tucson, AZ 85714
- CITY WARD 6 OFFICE 3202 E. 1st St. Tucson, AZ 85716
- PIMA FEDERAL CREDIT UNION Stone Financial Center 3730 N. Stone Ave. Tucson, AZ 85705
- PFCU THORNYDALE 6510 N. Thornydale Rd. Tucson, AZ 85741
- PFCU VALENCIA 2455 E. Valencia Rd. Tucson, AZ 85706
- PFCU PANTANO 231 N. Pantano Rd. Tucson, AZ 85710
- PFCU SILVERLAKE 1177 W. Silverlake Rd. Tucson, AZ 85713
