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Please join us in raising money to distribute books.
Velocity of Books:
Our goal is to promote literacy through the collection and distribution of books.
The collection of the books comes from individual donations, churches, other non-profits, book swap stations and book swap events.
The books are distributed to numerous non-profit organizations, schools, literacy programs, and individuals.
Some of the organizations we help are:
1. Reach Out and Read- A program in which we provide books for medical professionals to give parents, when they are teaching the parents how to teach the kids to read),
2. National Center for Children and Families. They have a library on-site. We also provide book for families who are transitioning back into permanent housing. After they were homeless or nearly homeless, the families have few possessions. We work to give them a variety of books, so that they will truly have books of interest to the reader.
3. Homeless Children's Playtime project. This program helps to ensure that homeless kids have access to books. What a great escape for these kids and essential that they have the exposure to the books, so that they don't lag behind their peers. When they read more, they'll be less likely to perpetuate the chain of poverty. Empowering!
4. Mary's Center. This is a program which provides medical services to pregnant women and young children. I met them when I donated books through Reach Out and Read. Reach Out and Read only takes new/ newer books for infants through age 5. I collect all books and Mary's Center is happy to take all I have. Many children stop reading as they get older. A significant part of the problem is not having constant access to books of interest.
5. Prisons. Essential that prisoners come out better educated. It is hard for many of them to get jobs when they get out of prison. I heard last night that 1/4 of prisoners are repeat offenders. Many commit crimes purposefully to get food and shelter.
6. Some of the examples of individuals who receive books may be children who have limited to no books in their home or home bound adults . Many of the home bound adults find our program through community village programs. http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/HHS-Program/ADS/Villages/Villages.html
7. We distribute books to the entire student population at some schools and are working to put book swap stations up at more schools. There are still students without a single book at home and this is an effective way to get books into the hands of students.
Future:
We are planning on getting book mobiles on the road. Many library systems think that their brick and mortar libraries are reaching the community, but they are truly out of touch with the less literate communities. Many individuals don't have the time or transportation to get to the libraries.
Our book mobiles will be giving books away. We will not be a library. There won't be late fees. Many people need books that they can own, as it makes a magical connections. You should see their faces when they get a book and they don't have to pay for it or give it back. There is great awe. Sometimes there is trepidation as though they think there is a catch.