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MONTEREY COUNTY – The Read to Me Project is organizing a book drive to collect 2,000 new and lightly used books to give to local children while on vacation in Monterey County.
Book donations are required by October 31st and can be dropped off at a Holiday Book Drive barrel located at BookWorks, 667 Lighthouse Ave., Pacific Grove; Downtown Book and Sound, 213 Main Street, Salinas; and River House Books, 208 Crossroads Blvd., Carmel. Online purchases can be shipped directly to Read to Me Project, PO Box 6434, Salinas, CA 93912.
Historically, the Read to Me project has hosted a gift-wrapping event for students in the program every year in December. During the event, students trained to read aloud to their youngest family members by a Read to Me Project coordinator received new books to choose from and wrap as a holiday gift for the little one. the House.
Last year’s event was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic and as a precaution it will no longer take place this year. Alternatively, a book drive is organized to collect books that will be given to each family whose children participate in the Read to Me project this year.
Books for babies and especially for children aged 7 to 12 are needed by October 31 to allow time to package and distribute them to 82 grades 4, 5 and 6 classes in Monterey County, including those from communities in South Monterey County.
Books in English or Spanish and fiction or non-fiction will be accepted. Young adults, textbooks and religious books cannot be used. A list of desired books can be found at readtomeproject.org.
“Alarmingly, nearly 80% of children in Monterey County enter kindergarten unprepared for school, according to Monterey County First 5, and most will never catch up,†said Mary De Groat , Director of Development and Marketing for the Read to Me Project. “The Read to Me Project aims to increase the number of students who succeed in school and eventually graduate from high school with competent literacy skills. These results create a positive impact on the socio-economic aspects of the community, a lower dependence on social services and a reduction in crime.
The Read to Me project is an innovative early literacy program for children to whom no other support program has access. It is based on the fact that 85% of brain development occurs in the first five years of life and that early engagement and enrichment stimulate brain development.
“The program takes place at home and is run by children – brother to brother,†De Groat explained. “It builds rewarding family relationships and enriches the literacy skills of children 6 months to 5 years old while improving the language and reading skills of student readers. “
The Read to Me project is mainly funded by grants and donations. For more information, visit readtomeproject.org, E-mail [email protected] or call 831-275-1300.
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