With many young students unable to access books at school libraries, Champaign County community organizations are collaborating on a book drive to help build up home libraries. Find out how you can help.
The United Way of Champaign County, Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation, the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce, and Junior League of Champaign County have teamed up to get books into the hands of young readers who need them most — especially in this time of remote learning.
The Booking It Forward! Book Drive will help students from Pre-K through 5th grade build their reading skills by providing free books for students to keep at home. Books and financial donations will be collected starting Sept. 14 through Sept. 25.
Books will be distributed to students in Champaign Unit 4, Urbana 116 and Rantoul City Schools 137 when families pick up meals from each respective district.
“The Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation is pleased to be part of this community wide effort. Our Unit 4 and District 116 teachers asked us to purchase books for their Pre-K through 5th grade students who are all learning at home this fall. Besides using our own funding, CUSF is excited to help build momentum for this community wide effort “Booking it Forward” by gathering gently used books for local distribution,” said Kelly Hill, executive director of the Champaign Urbana Schools Foundation.
With thousands of area children participating in remote learning, they may have reduced access to books from their school library or classroom.
The goal of this book drive is to make sure more Champaign County children have books they can call their own.
How can your family get involved?
- Go through your child’s bookshelf together and ask the child to pick out some books they’ve outgrown. You can talk about how happy other children will feel when they get new books. Not only will you clear room for future books, you will also help your child experience the joy of giving.
- Bring your donations to one of the collection boxes; see the list below for collection box locations and times. All collection boxes are set up for easy no-contact donation.
- Donate financially as you are able. Any monetary donations will be used to purchase books that feature diverse characters and storylines. It’s important that kids can see themselves reflected in the stories they read.
All book donations will be quarantined for a minimum of 7 days and will be sanitized by volunteers before distribution.
Booking It Forward! Book Drive, September 14 – 25
Purchase a book via Amazon Wish List
Click here for the Amazon Wish List
All purchases will be shipped to United Way of Champaign County, where volunteers will sort by age and get the books out to kids.
Make a monetary donation to purchase culturally relevant books
Click to Give – Powered by United Way
Help ensure the books distributed feature diverse characters and storylines. It’s important that students can see themselves reflected in the story. Every $5 donated purchases two books.
Drop off new or gently used books at a Collection Box
Donate at one of the Collection Boxes from September 14-25; all collection boxes are set up for easy no-contact donation.
Champaign
Champaign County Chamber of Commerce
303 West Kirby Avenue, Champaign
Collection Box Location: Entryway vestibule
Monday through Friday, 9-4
Copper Creek Church
2202 Curtis Road, Champaign
Collection Box Location: Outside Main Doors
Monday through Thursday, 10-1
Martin Hood LLC
2507 South Neil, Champaign
Collection Box Location: Entryway vestibule
Monday through Thursday, 8-3
Friday 8-12
Savoy
United Way of Champaign County
5 Dunlap Court, Savoy
Collection Box Location: Outside the front door. If raining, please knock.
M – F 9-4
Urbana
CU Church
107 South Webber Street, Urbana
Times vary – please call the church at 217.355.5120 to set up a drop off time