Local Literacy Initiative Appeals for Support During Holiday Season
As the Give a Kid a Book program enters its 31st year, the initiative calls upon the Chippewa Valley community to contribute to local literacy efforts this holiday season. Organized by the Friends of the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library, this annual initiative has significantly impacted local literacy, distributing nearly 20,000 books between 2020 and 2024. This year’s campaign aims to harness community support to ensure that local children have access to essential reading materials.
The program is accepting new children’s books and monetary donations until December 15. While there is no specific list of desired titles, donations are encouraged to include a diverse range of reading materials. Suggested books encompass board books for infants, picture books for toddlers, and both fiction and nonfiction suitable for children aged six to 18. Additionally, contributions of books written in Spanish and Hmong are welcomed to reflect the community’s multicultural needs.
According to Program and Development Coordinator Stacy Yearous, donations to the program have remained stable over the years. The year 2022 marked a high point in contributions, with 4,919 books donated throughout the campaign. “The Friends organization is dedicated to improving youth literacy, which is vital for fostering educational development in our community,” Yearous noted. “Many families find the cost of books prohibitive, and our program plays a crucial role in overcoming this barrier.”
Current reports from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction indicate a disparity in reading achievement levels among economically disadvantaged students compared to their peers. The average reading score of eighth graders in Wisconsin aligns with the national average; however, economically disadvantaged students lag behind by 25 points. This data underscores the importance of initiatives like Give a Kid a Book, which collaborates with various agencies to ensure that underprivileged children receive access to literature.
Community members can donate books at designated drop-off locations, including the Friends’ library on Level 0 and the bear display on Level 1. Further contributions can be made at Books-A-Million, located at 4030 Commonwealth Ave., Eau Claire, until December 7. Monetary donations can be mailed to Attn: GAKAB, 400 Eau Claire St., Eau Claire, WI 54701, or processed online through the library’s website.
Nancy Sowls, chair of the Give a Kid a Book program, expressed the organization’s fundamental objective: “Our goal is to instill the joy of reading into our local kids by igniting their imaginations. Reading is not just about literacy; it’s about fostering creativity and critical thinking.”
Local partners, including Books-A-Million and Royal Credit Union, as well as multiple partner agencies, assist in distributing the donated books, amplifying the program’s reach within the community.
For more information or to donate to the Give a Kid a Book program, visit the Friends of the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library website at www.ecpubliclibrary.info/friends/programs/give-a-kid-a-book/. The library invites all community members to participate in this vital initiative to enhance literacy among local youth.
