Program could deliver 40,000 free books to region

Educators and program leaders serving children in need have an opportunity to bring 40,000 free books to Southeast Missouri.

Community Caring Council has partnered with the not-for-profit First Book, which provides 20 books to each educator who registers through the organization's Books on Wheels program.

The thousands of free new books would be delivered to the area in a tractor-trailer. But 2,000 people must sign up by Oct. 1 for it to take place, organizers said.

During the free registration, the Books on Wheels program will ask for basic demographic information about the youths the educator serves.

Once an educator has signed up, an email will be sent, letting them know where and when the free books can be picked up during the week of Nov. 9.

"We've been really encouraged to think outside the box as far as what an educator is," said Stacy Taylor, asset coordinator at Community Caring Council. "We don't want people to feel like it does not apply to them if they're not a traditional classroom teacher."

Listed on First Book's website for those who can participate include school districts; early childhood programs; military family support programs; libraries and museums; shelters and clinics; faith-based organizations; after-school programs and others who work with children in need.

Taylor said the books ultimately are required to go home with a child.

"Teachers could do something like have a reading circle with the books and then send it home with the kids," Taylor said, adding the books also could be used as incentives or gifts for Christmas. "They can give them to the kids in any way they want to, but (the books) do ultimately have to be given to a child."

Since 1992, First Book has distributed more than 130 million books and educational resources to programs and schools serving children from low-income families throughout the United States and Canada.

"We don't want to fight illiteracy -- we want to end it," First Book's website says.

The No. 1 predictor of reading success is having books to read at home and in the classroom, according to Community Caring Council, and the reality of low-income families is that books are an unaffordable luxury for children.

With the variety of books that would be delivered to the area, Taylor said, would come an opportunity for children to select a book they're interested in reading.

"Kids will choose to read if they have things they enjoy reading about," she said. "With 40,000 options, they will have books at their disposal that are something that definitely interests them."

Taylor said there are no geographical boundaries for who can register to receive the books.

"Anybody that would have a way to come to Cape and pick their books up when those books are distributed are welcome to participate," she said, adding those who register are encouraged to ask colleagues to register as well. "The more people in a location the better, because that's that many more books that are coming into your facility or your center to go to the kids that you serve."

Educators may sign up online at register.firstbook.org/?rgst=THRIVE.

klamb@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3639