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