Online donations will supply books for children in need
For more than 20 years, Goodwill’s BookWorks program has given books to children who may not otherwise have them. BookWorks volunteers read to preschoolers, and then present each child with a book to take home. These are the first books many of the children have owned.
Since volunteers can’t go into classrooms to do readings during the pandemic, they’re doing interactive online readings with preschool classes, and teachers are giving children books that volunteers dropped off earlier.
A virtual book drive for the program starts April 1 and runs through April 30. People in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Polk, Hernando, Marion, Sumter and Highlands counties are being asked to purchase needed books through an online wish list, or to make a donation to the BookWorks fund that will be used to purchase books from a wholesaler. Goodwill can purchase new storybooks for less than $1 each.
To donate books through the online wish list or to make a monetary gift to purchase books, just visit goodwill-suncoast.org/book-drive-2021
To volunteer for BookWorks, call 888-279-1988 and ask for BookWorks or email bookworks@goodwill-suncoast.com
WMNF 88.5 FM Community Radio, Q92 FM and US 102.3 FM in Ocala are sponsors of the book drive.
BookWorks volunteers presented books to more than 70,000 children during the last two years. The program is desperately in need of books to meet future needs.
Goodwill’s BookWorks program is designed to instill a love of books and reading in children to establish the foundation for later success. Visit https://goodwill-suncoast.org/bookworks/ for more information about BookWorks.
Goodwill Industries-Suncoast is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is transforming lives through lifelong learning and the 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.