Give the Gift of Literacy

Give the gift of literacy by supporting Books Are Wings all year long!

We are proud to announce the launch of our Sixth Annual Gift of Literacy Campaign, a commitment to community empowerment through building the libraries of local families. The Gift of Literacy Campaign will provide funding for Books Are Wings’ core mission of putting free books in the hands of children. Every child in Rhode Island deserves access to books in their home and to be excited about books and reading. This annual campaign runs from the night of the kick-off event on November 21, 2019 through December 31, 2019. The funds raised throughout the campaign support Books Are Wings’ mission to put free books in the hands of children during the holiday season and all year long.

Generously sponsored in part by IGT, Bristol County Savings Bank and Amica, this fundraiser will help support the advancement of Books Are Wings’ programs such as Books All Year, an intensive citywide effort that brings the organization into the classrooms of partner schools; Books Spots, which stocks designated indoor and outdoor structures with children’s books all year long; and Book Request, which provides free books for community events. Learn more about the campaign, and buy tickets to the kickoff here: Give the gift of literacy!

With the campaign and the kickoff officially starting in over a month, there is plenty you can do RIGHT NOW to help support the mission of Books Are Wings.

Join us in these volunteer opportunities to give the gift of literacy all year long:

1. Book Sorting: Up to six volunteers meet at our office in the Hope Artiste Village to organize books for upcoming Books Are Wings events. Book sorting opportunities run for a two-hour time block, and are held every other Monday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

2. Book Drives: Your organization or group can collect new and gently used children’s books to donate to Books Are Wings.

3. School and Community Events: Staff a Books Are Wings table at a local elementary school or community site and give out FREE books to families. Book parties are held a few days each month, usually Tuesday through Thursday, depending on when the school schedules their day with Books Are Wings.  This involves up to eight volunteers in three-hour shifts between 8:30 am and 2:30 pm.

4. Reading: Volunteer readers are needed to read in local classrooms and help children select their two free books. See above for school-based volunteer shift times and capacity.

5. Donate Books: Collect books at an event you are already planning on hosting, or arrange to bring gently used children’s books to our Hope Artiste Village office.

6. Host a Permanent Donation Site: Your location could choose to host a permanent book donation bin.

To learn more about how to support our Gift of Literacy Campaign with your time, or to set up a volunteer shift, please email Kim Nelson, Director of Community Engagement, at kim@booksarewings.org for details on all of these opportunities.