A scene from the Books for Kids spring book distribution at Columbia Gorge Head Start. The group is seeking end-of-the-year donations to continue funding its work.
A scene from the Books for Kids spring book distribution at Columbia Gorge Head Start. The group is seeking end-of-the-year donations to continue funding its work.
This version contains corrections and updates to the original printed in the Oct. 30 edition.
THE GORGE — Books for Kids Columbia Gorge (B4KCG) has a single mission: To increase educational equity through literacy development by providing children and youth ages 0-18 with high quality books to keep as their own, said Karen Stafford, B4KCG board secretary, at a recent Mt. Adams Soroptimists meeting. The B4KCG focus is on serving children in low-income households and those who need additional support to become proficient readers.
But 25 million children in the United States unable to read proficiently and 61% of children living at or below the poverty line without any books at home. That’s not great news, considering a 2018 study conducted in 31 countries between 2011-2015 found that home library size correlates with literacy proficiency and cognitive skill level.
B4KCG recently launched its annual end of year fundraiser with the goal of raising $15,000 by Dec. 31. That’s the equivalent of five books in 750 local homes in Hood River, Wasco, Klickitat and Skamania counties.
“There is nothing better than seeing the joy on the children’s faces when they get their books to take home for their very own, to keep and treasure and read,” said Nancy Paul, board member and Start Making a Reader Today (SMART) reader at May Street Elementary.
While there are clear learning benefits, having books at home contributes to overall health as well. According to "Reading for Life: The Impact of Child Literacy on Health," published by Children Rising, “just 30 minutes of reading a day can lead to measurable improvements in physical health, such as reductions in blood pressure and heart rate,” Stafford said. There are also benefits in social emotional learning (SEL) and mental health, she added. Reading about the experiences of others can be a powerful tool for understanding and responding to our own experiences.
B4KCG is seeking individual and group donations of any size, as well as commitments of ongoing support. Tax deductible donations will be used to give books to low-income children in local literacy programs, with teachers choosing the books to meet each student's needs and interests, said Paul.
Donors can choose where their donation goes. Visit booksforkidscg.org to donate online, or send checks to:
PO Box 221, Hood River, OR 97031 (Hood River County)
PO Box 82, The Dalles, OR 97058 (Wasco County)
PO Box 34, White Salmon, WA 98672 (Klickitat and Skamania counties)
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