Children’s book drive under way

A book drive uniting 20 credit unions and Page Ahead, a children’s literacy program, began its third-annual campaign Feb. 1. This year’s “Banking for Books” goal is to collect 1,000 new children’s books to be distributed to at-risk children across the Inland Northwest.

During February, community members are asked to donate a new children’s book and bring it to any branch of the participating credit unions.

“The community book drive, like ‘Banking for Books’ is one of the most important resources for our program,” said Susan Dibble, Page Ahead’s executive director. “This year, we will provide over 10,000 new books to 3,370 children in the Inland Empire, and nearly 40 percent of these new books come from the generous support of our local community.”

Started in 1994 as Books for Kids, Page Ahead provides new books to children in elementary schools, early childhood centers, and youth services programs. Each site served by Page Ahead has at least 60 percent of the population living below the federal poverty level, receiving free or reduced lunches, reading below grade level, or receiving English as a second language services. Page Ahead has given more than 60,000 new books in the Spokane area since 1994 and has donated more than 1.5 million books statewide since its inception.

Mona Ammon, intermediate literacy coach at Holmes Elementary School, said she values Page Ahead’s support.

“Over 90 percent of our students can’t afford the full price of lunch, the price of a coat or mittens, or the price of a book,” Ammon said. “Many of our students did not own a single book until Page Ahead became involved at our school site.”