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Reader To Reader’s Hurricane Relief Efforts Draw National Attention
Amherst, MA – September 21, 2005 – When Reader to Reader, Inc. began its Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, little did they know that they would draw national attention and receive a mountain of books from across the United States. “We are absolutely astounded by the scale and quality of the donations we are receiving,” says Reader to Reader executive director David Mazor, “we are receiving thousands of children’s books from as far as Texas, California and Washington State.” Reader to Reader, Inc., which sends books to under resourced schools across the country, was recently featured on public radio’s Marketplace Morning Report and in Time Magazine for Kids. The result was an enthusiastic response that included book drives by groups as diverse as a Girl Scout troop in Los Angeles, a school system in North Carolina, and the 47,000 members of American Mensa. Local schools in the Pioneer Valley, including Amherst, Granby and Deerfield, have also started Reader to Reader book drives, and 800 high school Kiwanis Key Club members are aiming to collect 60,000 children’s books in Springfield. “We are expecting upwards of 200,000 books will be shipped in the next few months,” Mazor says. “With all the calls and emails I’m getting it might even be more.” Recently, two mothers from Floral Park, Long Island, drove up with 3,000 children’s books collected by their children. The kids held a six hour book drive that only ended when they ran out of space in the family van. Bekins Van Lines and Weymouth-based McKee’s Moving and Storage have offered to donate the shipping of the books to schools in Louisiana and Mississippi. Those wishing to donate gently used or new children’s books, and/or money for postage, can call 413-256-8595 or mail them to:
Hurricane Katrina Book Drive Shipments larger than 4 boxes should call 413-256-8595 or email dmazor@readertoreader.org for alternate shipping instructions. Reader To Reader, Inc. is a public charity that brings books free of charge to under-resourced school libraries across the United States. The award-winning organization serves over 200 schools in 27 states by recycling used books that are in top condition so that they can find new homes in school libraries. They also supply new books to schools purchased with funds from private donations and grants. For Further Information Contact:
David Mazor |