WACO, Texas — Children in Central Texas should have plenty to read this summer, as residents helped fill donation boxes with books at the 6 News Book Drive on Monday, May 6.
The Book Drive, held in partnership with Literacy ConneXus and Transformation Waco, was meant to collect reading material for families who may not have access to books during the summer.
From 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., volunteers from both organizations, as well as members of the 6 News team, set up at Alta Vista Elementary in Waco to collect donations and share the mission with the public.
Central Texans young and old showed up to drop off over 750 books, donating everything from early childhood books to classic stories, from picture books to story books to informational books.
Those who donated could even enter into a drawing to win some cool prizes, including a free oil change and tire rotation from Kish Complete Car Care Center, two gift certificates to the Baylor Spirit Shop at the Hurd Center, free tamales from Torilleria Santana and more.
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KCEN 6 News Inaugural Book Drive
Linda English, summer program coordinator for Literacy ConneXus, said she was thrilled just thinking about how excited children were going to be to receive the books.
"A great amount of books that have been brought in by the folks who came by, they are bringing in books that are going to be treasured by the kids that get them," English said.
English said she had no doubt Waco residents would be willing to help out their community.
"I'm always confident that Waco kind of steps up," English told 6 News.
Alta Vista Elementary teacher Jo Spark was another person who was thrilled that children would be getting the opportunity to have some reading material over the summer.
"I think it's a wonderful opportunity for kids to have books in their hands," Spark told 6 News. She said that for some parents, it can be difficult to have access to books or even libraries, but that it is "essential" for children to have access to books.
Spark said reading can help improve children's comprehension and academic skills, as well as provide families with something to do together and talk about to get closer as a family.
"Events like this are critical for kids," said Spark. "I think it's also accountability, because they see the community investing in them, and it gives them an idea, 'Well wait, that was my community, they thought I was worthy enough to have this gift of a book, so how can I use the knowledge that I get to be an agent of change in my community and bring these kinds of things back when I get out of school and become a partner in something this good?'"
Spark told 6 News how much reading taught her and meant to her growing up, and how much she believes the book drive will benefit the community. A full interview with Spark can be found at this link or in the window below.
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Those who missed the event can still drop off book donations at locations around Central Texas through May 14.
Drop-off locations are:
- Pizza Hut (Baylor, Bellmead and Hewitt)
- Fabled Bookshop
- Barnes & Noble
- Street Dog Cafe
- Tortilleria Santana
- Greater Waco YMCA
- Mayborn Museum
- Waco Police Department HQ (lobby)
- Kish Complete Car Care Center
- Baylor Spirit Shop at the Hurd Center
- Cameron Park Zoo (admissions or coffee shop)
- Common Grounds (Woodway location)
Books can also be donated online at the links below.
- Literacy ConneXus Amazon registry -- click here
- Fabledbookshop.com: add “CONNEXUS DRIVE” in the comments during checkout
Literacy ConneXus is an organization that advises and assists in literacy projects across the state of Texas and beyond. Established in 2004, the organization provides access to books for children in summer meal programs, helps prepare children of refugees for Kindergarten, provides tutoring for adult literacy students and trains teachers for English as a second language programs. More information about them can be found on their website.
Transformation Waco is a nonprofit that connects students and families to wraparound services for health and childcare. They currently serve four local schools to help provide access to low to no-cost afterschool programming and tutoring, mental health therapy, telehealth care and more. More information can be found on their website.
For more on the Book Drive, including interviews, stories and even book readings from your favorite 6 News anchors, visit KCENTV.com and KCENTV.com/read.
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