Toolkits: Book Drives and Book Giveaways - The Circle of Literacy

Gail De Bellis, PTA Parliamentarian, and Pat Maguire, community member,
help students at Hawes Elementary pick out chapter books!


The Jewish Coalition for Literacy (JCL) began organizing book drives in the year 1999 and does about ten book drives a year; according to these numbers, JCL has organized about 150 book drives since its foundation. An average JCL book drive collects about 250 books… so, if we do the math, 150 times 250 equals A LOT OF BOOKS!



New Highland Academy students get a sneak peek at
Dr. Seuss books available at the book giveaway.

The JCL partners with community and faith-based organizations for book drives throughout the year. Collected books are then offered to JCL tutors and parents for reading with their tutees and kids, respectively. This is a great opportunity that the JCL community appreciates and seizes. However, there are some shortcomings to this process. First, a small number tutors and parents pick up books. Second, adults are selecting the books, not the kids. Third, JCL receives many more books than they are able to donate. As Randi Fields, Bay Area Director, says "We receive such wonderful books, and they are not doing any good just sitting here in the office library." AmeriCorps VISTA members (VISTAs), Madeline, Alexsandra, and Josh did some serious research and brainstorming to get these hundreds of books off JCL shelves and in the hands of Bay Area children. 

This year’s "National March Into Literacy Month" was jammed packed with literacy-related activities in schools, so JCL VISTAs helped organize six school-wide book giveaways at these events. By working in collaboration with the school staff, parent and community volunteers, and after school programs, JCL was able to donate one free book to each student present. Over 1,000 children’s books recirculated from the JCL office library into students from six underserved schools in March 2014 alone. During and after the events, it was clear that the book giveaways had positive impact on the students. Gail De Bellis, PTA Parliamentarian at Hawes Elementary School, wrote in an e-mail to JCL "I think your participation was key for that week. We had a Scholastic book fair the following week and sold twice as many books as last year! I also see kids carrying books around, reading at lunch and recess far more than last year."



David Levin, JCL tutor, observes students read their
new books at Buena Vista/Horace Mann!

Book ownership is highly correlated with future academic attainment and one thing that all the participating schools had in common was that their students were lacking in children’s books to read at home. "We can’t expect kids to practice reading at home if they don’t have the resources to do it" fifth grade teacher at Costaño Elementary School told JCL. A single book can change a child’s life forever, and JCL is committed inspiring young readers by giving them direct access to free books. 

Creating the cycle of book drive and book giveaways is just one of the ways in which JCL AmeriCorps VISTA members Madeline, Alexsandra, and Josh help create sustainability for JCL and their partner schools. JCL VISTAs have an ear for listening and a balance between knowing what is needed and what is achievable. Having built a connection with the Bay Area community, JCL can continue to provide books to kids long after Madeline, Alexsandra, and Josh have left.