Worcester: the City that Reads book drive kicks off

• Posted by Worcester News March 28, 2023 - Filed in News - #Worcester  #Worcester Public Schools  #Worcester Public Library  #John Monfredo  - 1,374 views

  

  Terageorge, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

  The kick off for the 19th annual book drive by Worcester: the City that Reads Committee to collect books (PreK to grade  8) for summer reading kicked off with a Spring into Books theme.

  The drive will continue until the first of June.

  The Committee was founded by John and Anne-Marie Monfredo 18 years ago in an attempt to promote literacy in the community, put books into the hands of children who lack books in their homes, and to promote the importance of being a lifetime reader. In 18 years, the group has given out over 1,000,000 books to the children in this community!  Even though this is the official start of our drive, we collect books throughout the year.

  John Monfredo, a former principal in Worcester and Worcester School Committee member said: “The last few years due to the pandemic we did not have any formal book drive but still collected lots of books. However, it’s time to ramp it up this year. There are more students who have come into our city from other countries during the past 2 years and there are many other children lacking the necessary resources at home. Let’s try to collect 30,000 books this year."

  Traditionally, the books have been distributed to low-income students, social agencies, and groups with summer school programs.  In addition, books have also been given to schools and groups during the school year for special projects such as a start up library at a school, Spanish books for the dual language programs, AVID programs, innovation school projects, SPED, two-way bilingual schools, and all HEAD START and pre-school school programs.

  Books in the past have also been given to Plumley Village, Rainbow Child Development, the African Education Institute, Worcester Housing, the Y.W.C.A., Y.M.C.A., all private and public pre-school programs, Head Start, Books for Babies program, as well as to church groups with summer reading programs, United Way programs and to many other social agencies. This year books once collected and sorted will be distributed to the schools and other agencies prior to summer vacation. 

  “According to the research on literacy, studies clearly indicate that children in homes that have books are more likely to succeed in school, while children who don’t have adequate reading skills are much more likely to drop out of school.  One study found that the ability to read well is the single best indicator of future economic success – regardless of family background,” Monfredo said. 

  Anne-Marie Monfredo, a former teacher said: “We started this book drive to encourage the children in our community to develop a love for reading and to put books into the hands of those who have so few. As the former secretary of education Richard Riley, whom we met years ago in Washington, D.C. stated, 'If every child were read to daily, from infancy, it would revolutionize education in this country.' ”

  Children’s author Emilie Buchward said it best, “Parents play a vital role in this undertaking for children are made readers on the laps of their parents.” 

  More drop off sites have been added this year as well as more groups have come forward and are conducting their own book drives. The drive will go until June 1st.    Groups involved in the drive as a site or having their own drive are as follows: 

  • Worcester Public Library main branch and the Frances Perkins Public Library.
  • Worcester Public Schools – 20 Irving Street, outside the superintendent’s office
  • M&T banks in Worcester and Shrewsbury
  • Bay State Savings Banks – all branches
  • Greendale and Main South Y.M.C.A.
  • Y.W.C.A.
  • Boys and Girls Clubs
  • Shaws Market on West Boylston Street
  • Stop and Shop – all sites.
  • Woo Sox – books collected at Polar Park 
  • Worcester BraveHearts – will collect at games in Worcester.
  • Worcester Railers
  • RSVP and the Senior Center on Vernon Street
  • Starbucks Coffee on Park Ave. 
  • Jewish Community Center on Salisbury Street
  • Greendale and Main Street YMCA
  • All Public High Schools and Middle Schools in Worcester
  • Private Schools – St. Paul’s, Worcester Academy, Bancroft School, St. John’s High 
  • Ecotarium Center and Umass Outpatient Psychiatry
  • Worcester Credit Union ( West Boylston St.)

  Private contributors – Memorial Hospital, UMass Medical Hospital, Fallon Health, and Fairlawn Health

  • Northboro Junior League 
  • Wilson Language
  • Force Self Defense and Fitness located in Holden
  • Tide Pool Bookshop (Chandler St.) and That’s Entertainment ( Park Ave.)
  • Local colleges – WSU, Anna Maria, Holy Cross, Quinsigamond, Clark University
  • HyggeHouse books has a bin at the Redemption Rock Brewing in Worcester
  • Heart of the New England Council
  • Roots and Press bookstore/café (Chandler St.)
  • AFL-CIO

  A LISTING OF THESE SITES AND OTHER ADDITIONAL SITES CAN BE ACCESSED BY GOING TO THE FOLLOWING facebook site.  - Worcester: the City that Reads  or https://worcesterschools.org/book-donation-drive-for-worcester-the-city-that-reads/

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