"From a child's first foray into the depths of a story to an adult's escape into a world of words, reading plays an integral role in our lives." -- President Barack Obama
Bergen
Volunteer Center’s Business Volunteer Council (BVC)
kicked off its annual Books in a Bag book
drive in early January. BVC member businesses collected thousands of new books for
children of low income families to promote the importance of family literacy.
Children raised in homes that read, grow up to
be better readers and do better in school than children raised in homes where
literacy is not a priority. For low-income preschoolers, increasing early
literacy and math skills is vital to closing the achievement gap between them
and their more advantaged peers.
In
an effort to raise awareness about childhood literacy, Business Volunteer
Council volunteers,
Suez Water North Jersey, Atlantic Stewardship Bank, and BD put on their red and
white hats and read their favorite stories to 470 pre-school and kindergarten
students at the Quarles School in Englewood.
The
celebration Read Across America Day, took place on March 2,
2016, the birthday of beloved children’s author Dr. Seuss. Nearly
500 backpacks filled with 1500
new books were donated by the BVC for all the children to take home and start
reading that day!
The
Business Volunteer Council’s Books in a
Bag is still collecting books for the Bergen Volunteer Center’s annual Big
Book Give Away on Saturday, April 23, 2016, a book fair for children and
families mentored through the Bergen Mentors program and other human service
agencies. Bergen Mentors is comprised of two support programs; Mentoring Youth,
which provides mentors to children who have suffered severe abuse and neglect,
and Mentoring Moms, which provides support to mothers struggling to provide for
their families. A combined 182 children are served by the two programs, 95% of
whom are from low-income families. Buying books at a bookstore or at their
school book fair is a luxury that is often not in the family budget for many of
the children in Bergen Mentors, so this special book fair will enable the
children to enjoy the thrill of attending a book fair and choosing trending
titles without worrying about cost.
“Poverty should never prevent any child from the
chance to learn and thrive.” states
Erica West, the Volunteer Center’s Director of Corporate Engagement. “As
members of the community, Business Volunteer Council members are poised to help
families instill the value of reading in their children and educate parents on
the significant impact family reading can have on a child’s development.”
All books
were generously donated by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Suez, Konica Minolta, Sharp
Electronics, Scholastic, BD, Atlantic Stewardship Bank and Books and Greetings
bookstore. Books in a Bag was sponsored by Business Volunteer Council member
companies Konica Minolta, Sharp Electronics, Suez, BD, Community Bank of New
Jersey, Atlantic Stewardship Bank and Branding Ovation.
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