Storybook donations help children read to succeed
Help bring the joy of reading to children who may not otherwise have books in their homes. A drive to support Goodwill’s BookWorks childhood literacy program starts Feb. 1 and runs through March 15. People in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Polk, Hernando, Marion, Sumter and Highlands counties are encouraged to donate children’s storybooks in good condition or make a donation to purchase books for the program. Goodwill can purchase new storybooks for less than $1 each.
10News/WTSP-TV, the Tampa Bay Times, WMNF 88.5 FM Community Radio, OUTFRONT Media, and Q92 FM and US 102.3 FM in Ocala are sponsors of the book drive.
Goodwill’s BookWorks program promotes literacy by giving books to children from families with low incomes. Goodwill volunteers read to children at Head Start centers and other locations and then present each child with a book to take home. These are the first books many of the children have owned. Last year BookWorks volunteers presented books to more than 55,000 children.
To donate books, attach a note indicating they are “For BookWorks” and drop them off at any Goodwill-Suncoast store or donation site in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Polk, Hernando, Sumter, Marion or Highlands counties. For donation locations, visit www.goodwill-suncoast.org or call toll-free 888-279-1988.
To make a monetary gift to purchase new books for the program just visit goodwill-suncoast.org/give-online/
To volunteer for BookWorks, call 888-279-1988 and ask for BookWorks or email bookworks@goodwill-suncoast.com
Goodwill’s BookWorks program is designed to instill a love of books and reading in children. Because early childhood literacy is linked to later employability, BookWorks supports Goodwill-Suncoast’s mission of helping people achieve their full potential through the dignity and power of work. Visit https://goodwill-suncoast.org/bookworks/ for more information about BookWorks.
Goodwill Industries-Suncoast is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to help people achieve their full potential through the dignity and power of work. The organization’s successful donated goods retail operation helps support its human services in 10 counties in West Central Florida including Job Connection centers, training and job placement for people with disabilities, a children’s literacy program, affordable apartment communities for seniors and people with disabilities, and community corrections programs. For more information, visit www.goodwill-suncoast.org.