I love children’s books. Two perks of my job are maintaining CLiF’s inventory of books and ordering titles for our book giveaways. Around the end of the year I take stock of books bound for daycare centers, afterschool programs, schools, and other program sites. And I always come to the same conclusion: CLiF needs more books!
As CLiF grows as an organization, we give away more books. This summer we gave away more than 6,000 books in just three months! It’s so important to have a diverse selection of high-interest titles to get kids excited about reading. We order lots of books, but the high-quality, beloved books we get from book drives are our favorites. You can tell the thought that someone put into choosing it.
Luckily, we have enthusiastic bookstores, companies, and community members who hold book drives for CLiF, especially around the holidays. I was so pleased to be contacted by Maryellen Sullivan of Gold Star Dog Training last week. She is sponsoring a book drive for CLiF in partnership with Stowe’s Bear Pond Books. Maryellen is collecting new books for children aged 0-12 with special emphasis on dog-themed books. Canine reads are very popular with the kids we serve!
Next Chapter Bookstore in Barre, The Flying Pig Bookstore in Shelburne, Norwich Bookstore, and Bridgeside Books in Waterbury, Vermont are also holding holiday book drives to benefit CLiF. And the Oliver Wyman offices in New York and Boston (where Duncan worked before founding CLiF) are holding a office-wide book drive.
If you live near any participating bookstore, please consider shopping locally and buying a new book for one of the low-income, at-risk, or rural local children CLiF serves!
And if you are thinking of ways to give back this holiday season, consider holding your own book drive in your community or office. More books for CLiF means more big smiles on the faces of local kids in need!
Many wonderful people and groups hold book drives for CLiF. Read about the First Church in Jaffrey, NH here, Harry Hopper here, and Hiata at Bridgeside Books here!
