By Summer:

Literacy is very important to me! Not just as a person but as a mom and teacher. Thanks to my resources at Mom Start we’re been able to supply books to a local school by requesting extra books from PR companies when writing reviews (not all companies are giving, special note is given at the bottom of a post for donated books); my family keeps the book we’ve used by reading and we give the extra book to the school I student taught at which has a high population of free or reduced lunches and is the school for a government subsidized housing area for refugees mainly from Laos and Thailand.

If you’d like to give literacy too, donate to your local classroom or library system.

Libraries are more than hardcovers on shelves as you can borrow movies, music, eBooks, and browse databases all with a small free card! My library system also offers FREE community events and support services: homework help, English as a Second Language conversation groups, book readings, book signings and author readings, concerts, story time, storytelling programs such as puppet shows, summer reading programs, educator STARS workshops, computer classes, writing workshops, book sales, etc. I’ve used a fair share of resources as a teacher for my classroom, as a student for research, as a mom for their events and programming, and personally for books and eBooks.

If you want to give literacy try these options:

· Acquiring Books

Bloggers – Ask companies you work with to donate an extra book so you can also donate.

Parents – When the scholastic book orders come along order an extra $1 book or two. You can also think about donating the used books your child has out grown. Be sure to ask the group you plan to donate too if they need books. Then get the books to the principal or teacher. They could hand them out to children or the teacher might be able to use them as teacher’s classroom library is personally supplied, so donating a book to a classroom library can offer a resource for that grade level for several years.

Educators – I challenge you to give books to the children who need them. In my class there were students who wouldn’t bring back the library books they checked. These children need books at home.

· Donate new or used books

School – Contact local toddler groups or schools; see if they have a library in need of resources. Schools teachers and administrators might also have a giving program where they get books in the hands of students who couldn’t otherwise afford them.

Library – Check and see if your library offers books for sale. Mine has groups called Friends of the Library for each branch in my library system. By selling donated books they fund and help support their branch.

Food Bank – Some food banks will also accept books to hand out to patrons. They might only accept books during the holiday season to pass onto parents as presents. Check with your local food bank.

· Donate Money

Library – My library has a foundation to which monetary donations can be accepted.

Library Groups – My local library system offers a group called “Friends of the Library” which sponsors their city’s library branch. Anyone can join with a simple annual membership fee. The funds are used at the library of the chaptering city.

School – I don’t actually know if you can give money to a school or a school library directly. Donations can be made to private schools, but I don’t know how this works in a public school. On donations, if they are accepted, ask about designating your money to the library or the purchase of books.

School Groups – Giving through groups such as the PTA might be the best way to offer monetary support. Check with the PTA about what they do for the school’s literacy.

If you’re gifting your used books, don’t just give your child’s books away. Get your child involved! This is the perfect opportunity for your child to learn about giving. Explain to them why you feel this is the best thing for the books they own which are only collecting dust. If your child belongs to a group such as a scout troop try organizing a book drive so your child can see other children also giving. Not only are you giving, but you’re “recycling” these books to new users. An all-around win!

About Summer:

Summer is very active in our Local MOMS Club chapter, she is the mother of two adorable active boys, and is always thinking of ways to help others. She is a friend, a wife, and always busy as all mommies are. She is very active on Facebook, addicted to Geocaching and very interested in organic and green living while cooking up a storm.