By Gary Lloyd
Paine Primary and Paine Intermediate schools in Trussville are two of 12 Birmingham-area schools participating in next month’s Birmingham Reads Book Drive Challenge.
The challenge will be April 8-17, and it features the 12 participating schools collecting new and gently used children’s books.
Other participating schools include, Bluff Park Elementary, Brookwood Forest Elementary, Cherokee Bend Elementary, Edgewood Elementary, Hall Kent Elementary, Highland Day School, Mountain Brook Elementary, Shades Cahaba Elementary, Vestavia Hills Elementary East and Vestavia Hills Elementary West.
Books collected in the book drive will be distributed to at-risk students through Better Basics’ programs. Community members are encouraged to participate in the book drive by dropping off your donations at any of these schools, or bringing books to a Books-A-Million location in the greater Birmingham area
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“This is a wonderful opportunity for the community to connect with Birmingham City schools,” said Karen Kapp, executive director of Better Basics. “Through this event, we are able to provide literature to children that can have an impact on the entire family. Each child is able to take home a book that was given to them by someone special. That child can share the book with siblings; parents can utilize the book to have a read-aloud family story time. Birmingham Reads Day not only shows children that people in the community support and care about them, it also demonstrates for teachers that we appreciate and acknowledge their efforts.”
It takes one hour of your time to volunteer with Birmingham Reads. Those interested in volunteering should contact Kathleen Drake at volunteer@betterbasics.org or by calling 205-944-2928. All volunteers will receive training and all materials needed to participate.
The Birmingham Reads project is in its fourth year and is a partnership between Better Basics and the Junior League of Birmingham. For more information, visit www.birminghamreads.com.
Contact Gary Lloyd at news@trussvilletribune.com and follow him on Twitter @GaryALloyd.