United Way collecting new books for low-income children, schools

June 15, 2009

Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
by Wendy Leung, Staff Writer

RANCHO CUCAMONGA - The Inland Empire United Way is spending this week celebrating existing bookworms and hoping to create new ones.

A number of activities this week and ongoing programs this summer are centered on the theme, "Read to Succeed."

The goal is to get children excited about reading during these summer months outside of the classroom.

Residents can drop off new books through Friday at the United Way office on Hermosa Avenue.

"Our Teacher Resource Center will be collecting them," United Way spokeswoman Christine Labrador said. "It goes to help disadvantaged children and the schools we serve."

Labrador said 27 schools serving low-income children will receive books from the week-long drive.

This is the first time the nonprofit is devoting a week to promote childhood literacy. Other businesses and agencies are also partnering in the effort.

Target has donated backpacks with a set of American Girl books to be distributed at Ontario-Montclair, Fontana Unified, Redlands Unified and Chino Valley Unified school districts.

On Thursday and Friday, each of the four districts' elementary school libraries will receive the books.

United Way is also partnering with First Book, an international nonprofit, to distribute reading material donated by Disney to low-income children in the Inland Empire. Volunteers will organize the donations today and Wednesday at the United Way office.

Children are also encouraged to get in the habit of reading this summer through the Reach Out and Read initiative. Elementary students can log their book title and minutes they read each day at the HandsOn Web site at www.handsoninlandempire.org. The most-read participant will win a prize in mid-August when the program ends.

"Basically, our goal is to help children and youth achieve their full potential by providing a foundation of literacy and a love of reading," Labrador said.

San Bernardino County's 2-1-1 database also has a listing of literacy and English as a second language programs in the region. Call 2-1-1 or visit www.211sb.com for more information.

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