3rd Annual Launching Libraries

 All kinds of used books wanted- for children, teens & adults

Kids Helping Kids has partnered with the Stamford Yerwood Center to give families in need the opportunity to create their own libraries at home with this Taking Library. 

Want to volunteer?

SIGN UP NOW  April 27-28

See what this is about…   Launching Libraries Video

 Students who don’t read proficiently by third grade are four times more likely to leave school without a diploma when compared to proficient readers.

KHK Collection Spots - Drop off your books at any of these locations

Need a few tips to start your own collection? It is really easy and we need your help!   Make a poster and announcements asking for gently used books. Tell them why you are spreading the love of literacy.  Need more help, just email us

Want to get involved in other ways? We would love to have your help!  LaunchingLibraries@KidsHelpingKIdsCT.org

Save the date of Saturday, April 27th to come sort and organize the collection

2012:  Kids Helping Kids enthusiastically partnered with a local organization, US-Africa Children’s Fellowship (USACF) this year to help develop libraries and literacy in Africa. We collected over 4,500 books so far and some teams have not yet finished. Several times a year, they take a full container over to Africa and distribute books. Almost all of the 230 schools they work with are rural and their language of instruction is English.   Some of the students have never taken home a book in their life and now they love reading. Mark, co- founder of USACF, shared, “My wife and I once came upon a girl engrossed in a book under a tree. We asked her what she was reading and it was a book we had brought called the “The Babysitter’s Club”. She said she loved the book and the library had five more in series. We are presently filling three containers; one for Zimbabwe, one for South Africa and one for Botswana. One container holds 1,500 boxes. We are delighted to partner with Kids Helping Kids members to spread the joy of literacy.”

SCHOOLS INVOLVED in 2012: Trinity High School, KLHT, New Canaan Country School, Norwalk High School, Turn Of River Middle School, St. Luke’s School

DETAILS:   It is really easy to start a collection.  Make a poster and or an announcement asking for gently used books. Tell them why you are spreading the love of literacy.  You can invite them to this page to learn more. 

 

What Can a Book Donation Do?

• Rural school libraries desperately need books so children can take books to read at home.
• American students learn the difficulties of getting an education in Africa and are empowered to help by donating their own supplies and corresponding with children in sister schools.
• Teacher morale  and retention in participating African schools has dramatically increased.
• Reading tests results have increased from 5% passing to 60% passing in many schools.
• More students are qualifying for universities.

A few words from members…   ”We  got involved with Kids Helping KIds in October 2011 when they came to our after school program and we enrolled in a workshop called, Turn Your Passion into Action. We initiated a holiday party for kids at the NEON center and it was so great seeing our passion and ideas transform into action.  Sarahfina Strackman explained, “We created our second project around food hunger and Launching Libraries is our third project.”  We know lots of kids do not have books and we want to get books into their hands to help educate them.”  said Smana Seradieu.  Melissa Gabrielle added that, “It does not take much time to help and we enjoy getting together and helping make a difference in the lives of other kids. All three teens are 11th graders at Norwalk HIgh School. 

 

Launching Libraries Project 2011: Over 80% of schools in New Orleans were damaged by Hurricane Katrina. In the most underserved areas, there’s 1 book for every 300 children. Kids Helping Kids members all across the United States were determined to help.

Books being packed   Books delivered to Waterside School in Stamford

Better World Books and Do something.org teamed up and launched an Epic book drive. KHK members joined this cause and spearheaded individual book drives at their schools and in their communities to collect books. All books 5th grade and older were sent to Better World Books (free of charge). They were donated or sold to raise funds for New Orleans’ Recovery School District libraries. The books that were 4th grade and younger were donated to Waterside School in Stamford, CT to help fill the shelves of their new library.

Saturday, May 21, over 24 kids came together to sort, pack and count books. Over 16,800 books were collected from 15 different schools. A gigantic thank you to all that made this an EPIC collection. A big thanks to the Bank of New Canaan and Stamford First Bank who offered their branches as drop off points.

Amanda, 5th grader at Northeast, Stamford, CT collected books through school, her swim team, book club and her brother’s Youth wrestling team. Her goal was to collect 150 boxes (4,500 books). She surpassed that goal by triple!

Jon, Jason, Jordan & Jessie Cleary, KHK members living in Littleton, CO. say, “We are inspired to help with this project for  New Orleans because we think every school library should be overflowing with books!  Congratulations to this team in Colorado- they collected over 2000 books making a gigantic difference. Jon collected from his school. He put a tub out front by the office and advertised through kid’s last period class. Jason collected at a school lacrosse game  and put collecting bins by the entrances. Jessie collected from her soccer team and got the books at games and practices. Jordan collected from her Brownie troop and her soccer team.  She collected during meetings,practices, and games as well. They also put a collection bin on our front porch to collect books from friends and neighbors.They shipped 40 boxes of books yesterday and were able to give about 6 large boxes of books to a local elementary school that needed the younger books. They collected over 1400 books in total.

Katherine Norton, 8th grader at NCCS, New Cannan, CT headed up a collection in her neighborhood and youth group. Kat inspired Hope Smith, 5th grader at Greenwich Catholic, to get involved. Hope decided to meet with her principal and they sent out a letter to all of the students. The effect: 1,612 books were collected from Hope’s efforts. Kat has brought thousands of books as well. Congratulations to this dynamic team.

Warren, 7th grader who lives in New Canaan and attends Beacon School spearheaded up a collection through scouts and in his neighborhood.

 

We took the 4th grade and younger books and donated them to Waterside School in Stamford.  We delivered over 8,500 books to their new library.