OUR
LATEST PROJECTS:
MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO GIVE BOOKS TO KIDS
We've had great success with book drives. They're simple, easy,
and direct. If your school would like to set up a collection box
for new books (or slightly used) for kids in need, just get in
touch with us and we'll give you the contact information of a
school or organization serving those kids. You can collect and
ship the books directly.
Donations are also a great way to give. Kids in Need - Books in
Deed can get books at a discount and therefore get more books
into kids' hands.
In addition to the Title I schools listed in "Participating
Schools," we are actively seeking Book-Drive Volunteers to
start up collections for the following kids:
BOOKS TO KIDS WITH INCARCERATED PARENTS:
When children go to visit an incarcerated parent, they aren't
allowed toys or games, but they are allowed books. We've been
asked to try to find ways to build these libraries and also to
have some books on hand to give away.
BOOKS
TO KIDS IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM:
We recently received a letter from a foster parent, underscoring
the need to reach kids in the foster care system.
"As a foster parent, I have many children who come through
our home who are way below grade level...My goal is to help foster
parents in our area get a personal library for these children
to begin a love for reading or provide opprotunities to read books
accessible to them no matter where they go. I would like to see
each child possess a small library of books which can move with
them when they leave our home. My hope is these books will be
one's they share, trade or cherish for years to come."
We agree, wholeheartedly!
BOOKS
TO KIDS IN SHELTERS:
Capital City Youth Services operates an 18-bed shelter—among
others programs—that serves 10-17 year old youth in crisis
and their families in the Big Bend area (Leon, Wakulla, Gadsden,
Franklin, Madison, Taylor, Jefferson and Liberty counties). They
typically see between 400 and 500 children a year through the
shelter program. All of their services are provided free of charge.
We have gotten over 250 new books to CCYS this past year (including
books donated by young adult novelists Emily Franklin and Megan
McCafferty and donations from the bookstore Little Shop of Stories
in Decatur, Georgia), but we'd love to give more!
We
also would like to get books to Community Partnership for Homeless.
Since 1995, CPHI has been assisting homeless men, women and children
in transitioning off the streets of Miami-Dade County and on their
way to attaining greater stability and self-sufficiency in their
lives. Visit their web site for more information: www.cphi.org
THE
GIFT BOOK BRIGADE
We will continue to ask authors to donate new copies of their
own titles and to hit up publishing houses for free books and
discounts, but we are also hoping for financial donations from
friends of Kids in Need - Books in Deed, friends like you.
GIVE
A GIFT BOOK
To buy a book for a child, send a check to:
Kids in Need – Books in Deed
Attn: Nancy Smilowitz
Senior Director of Development
Office of the Dean College of Arts & Sciences
Tallahassee, FL 32306-1280
We do not accept donations of used books. If you have used books
that you'd like to find a good home for, please contact
us and we can get you connected to donation opportunities.
We will be working with a number of the authors from our list
of Participating Authors so that we
can get the books signed and inscribed, but we will not be limited
to this list and will certainly be looking for the best books
at the best prices so that we can serve as many children as possible.
IF YOU ARE AN AUTHOR
If you are an author who would like to donate your own books,
thanks so much for thinking of us. Please do not use the FSU Foundation
address for donations. Instead please contact Julianna
Baggott for specific mailing instructions. And we would love
for you to sign your books, maybe even add a funny, smart, inspiring
inscription.
If you are an adult author interested in donating books, please
get in touch. We have opportunities here as well.
KIDS
IN NEED - BOOKS IN DEED
This
new program is bringing FREE books and FREE author visits to underprivileged
schools and community organizations. How? In addition to private
funding, schools that hope to inspire generosity and service in
their students can sign up to sponsor a Write-A-Thon
and the money raised will bring free books and authors to kids
who need them most.
When
children create a character, they are learning empathy. When they
plot a story, they are learning strategic thought. When they
invent what might happen next, they are developing their
imaginations. When they are putting one word in front of
the next, they are understanding, deeply, their language and finding
their own voice.
Empathy. Strategic thought. Imagination. Language. Voice. Regardless
of a child's path in life—into the sciences or business,
the arts or politics—these elements will go into every
worthwhile endeavor they undertake in their lives.
With the extreme wealth of Florida, there is also extreme poverty
and often extreme weather which only compounds problems.
In Putnam County, 28.9% of the children live in poverty—almost
one out of every three. They are closely followed by Hardee and
Hamilton, Desoto and Dixie. We will be serving Title One schools,
where over 90% of the students qualify for free or reduced lunches,
as well as programs that serve Kids in Need.
Help us bring authors to children in need. Help us make those
books come alive. Help us to put books into children's hands,
into children's homes.
Click here to learn how to donate now.
Click here to learn more about becoming
a Write-A-Thon School in Deed.
ONE
CHILD'S IMAGINATION FUELS ANOTHER CHILD'S EDUCATION!
A
fund to support Kids in Need – Books in Deed is housed within
the Florida State University Foundation. For more information
on how to participate in this project, please contact: Julianna
Baggott.
