Childcaring in partnership with Supporting Families Together Association (SFTA), is collecting books for children and early education programs.
The drive is going on now, through Aug. 31.
Childcaring is proud to have helped collect over 20,500 books, over the last four years of Once Upon a Book Drive, for Wisconsin children in need.
This year, the public is invited to help put quality literature into the hands of our youngest children by donating new and gently used children’s books at a donation site near you.
“We know that introducing books to children at a young age encourages a lifelong love of books. Each year we hope to collect more books for local children,” said Kelly Borchardt, Childcaring Executive Director.
Once Upon a Book Drive focuses on supporting early literacy because it is a crucial skill that is strongly linked to a child’s success later in life. It is especially important during the first few years of a child’s life as their brain develops most rapidly.
Donated books can be new or gently used and must be appropriate for children from birth to 12, with an emphasized need for infant/toddler and bilingual books. Childcaring will distribute collected books to local early education programs and families, while SFTA and its other member Child Care Resource and Referral agencies (CCR&Rs) and Family Resource Centers (FRCs) will distribute books across Wisconsin. Level of need for receiving books will be based on criteria set by SFTA to ensure books are allocated where they will have the greatest impact. Buy and ship books through AmazonSmile to donate a percentage of your purchase to SFTA, or donate books in person at any of the book donation sites across the state.
Local donation sites are:
Childcaring, Inc.– Wausau Office (1500 Merrill Ave., Ste. 201, Wausau)
T.B. Scott Free Library (106 W. 1st St., Merrill)