Standing before a packed room at a local networking meeting, Michelle Cook paused and held up a handwritten thank-you card. The note’s author wasn’t a librarian, parent, or teacher at a nearby school. It was from a young student who had recently attended a free book fair hosted by Cook’s nonprofit, Book Drive for Kids.
“Thank you!” the note read in part. “You are the reason this cowgirl loves chapter books! I love you.”
That kind of response reflects the impact Cook, fellow co-founder Nicol Klingenstein, and the rest of the volunteer team at Book Drive for Kids are making. What began nearly a decade ago to help a teacher friend host a free book fair at her school, where many of the kids were economically disadvantaged, has grown into a mission to build a culture of literacy that doesn't simply fill bookshelves. It opens doors, builds confidence, and shapes a lifelong love of reading.
While a nightly reading of a dog-eared copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar or a late night well-spent under the covers with a flashlight and a Harry Potter book are cherished childhood rituals, for many families, purchasing even one or two books is considered a luxury. The result is a growing number of children who can’t build the vocabulary they need to succeed in school. They also miss out on exercising their imaginations, learning about new people and places, and developing empathy by experiencing a life or story different from their own.
Book Drive for Kids fills those gaps by distributing over 80,000 books a year at no cost to school-age kids in kindergarten through sixth grade or their families. The organization has also donated roughly 15,000 books to teachers, preschools, community book fairs, and civic organizations.
“I could share all sorts of stats, like the fact that 16,500 kids in DFW alone have attended a free book fair to select the book of their choice. Honestly, though, it’s the countless smiles on these kids’ faces that matter the most,” Cook said. “The kids truly feel like these books are gifts to them. They aren’t just books from school; they are from people they don’t know who genuinely care enough about them and want them to have books available to them. It’s truly remarkable what has happened in such a short time.”
She added, “The best part for me is when we go back to the schools. The kids recognize us and are excited to see us.”
Like many nonprofits, Book Drive for Kids relies heavily on partnerships, book donations, financial contributions, and volunteer involvement to keep getting books into the hearts and hands of the children who need them most. Anyone interested in getting involved can start by donating, volunteering, or sponsoring a Birthday Box for a class of 25 (valued at $200).
To discover more about what Book Drive for Kids does and how you can help, visit BookDriveForKids.com
The best part for me is when we go back to the schools. The kids recognize us and are excited to see us.