This is one of my favorite projects this summer! Rachel and I teamed up with Kellogs and Champions for Kids to organize a little book drive in Rachel’s neighborhood. We then donated all these books to a local adoption agency that works with foster children. I have a passion for books. Rachel is a former foster parent. This project could not have married our joys better.
I participate in this program on behalf of Champions for Kids and The Motherhood. All opinions are my own.
Champions for Kids gave me and Rachel one challenge – join them to donate books to a local organization. Any organization. Rachel’s eyes lit up when she knew exactly where to take the books.
When she was a foster parent, she remembers taking her children to a room where they were allowed to “go shopping” for books and toys of their own. These were all donated and this was always a special time for the kids, who often came to her house with very little of their own things.
Here is Rachel’s side of the story, in her own words:
“I am so excited to get to be part of a book drive for local foster children. As a former foster parent, I know the value of a foster child getting to call something their own. Some of these books will become treasures for children who have very little personal possessions. Best of all, these books serve a greater purpose, supporting the love of reading, enabling foster kids to relate to characters and in turn be able to cope better with their own challenging life situations. Reading aloud with a supportive adult also encourages bonding and attachment, which at-risk children need so desperately.”
What is Champions for Kids?
Champions for Kids is a non-profit that seeks to meet the needs of kids. Period. That is what they do, and they do all they can to meet as many needs as possible.
On their website, they state their values:
All children should have:
Someone who cares
A place to belong
Hope for tomorrow and provisions for their journey.
All children.
Isn’t that beautiful? And right now – from July 18 – August 18 – Champions for Kids is partnering with Kellogg Company to encourage #Fuel4School community projects across the country benefiting children in need. Called SIMPLE Service Projects. Rachel and I donated books to an adoption agency. You can collect and donate books to a local emergency shelter or library.
TWITTER PARTY
If you love chatting on Twitter, you can help Kellogs and Champions for Kids spread the word about this nationwide project. And yes, there are prizes! Details are below:
When: Monday, August 4, 2014, at 1p ET / 12p CT / 10a PT
Where: We’ll be on Twitter – follow the #SIMPLEGiving hashtag to join the conversation. You can see the details and RSVP via this invitation: http://bit.ly/1zCig4g
Hashtag: #SIMPLEGiving
Prizes: Five prizes will be given to randomly selected participants who answer the trivia questions correctly. Each prize includes a $50 Walmart gift card.
Hosts: @theMotherhood, @theMotherhood25, @CooperMunroe, @EmilyMcKhann
Sponsor: @Champions4Kids
Get a free book or donate one to the school of your choice! Choose from more than 50 Scholastic books, including bilingual titles, for children of all ages. Follow these simple steps:
- Look for a code inside specially marked Kellogg’s® cereals and other Kellogg’s® products sold at Walmart.
- Enter the code online.
- Order your free book or choose to donate it to the school of your choice.
I absolutely love hearing of good charitable causes that are directly helping kids.
Thank you Caroline! It is so fantastic and easy for anyone to join them to do small things in their communities 🙂
What a great idea. We are book lovers and always have plenty if books to share and pass on! I will definitely check it out!
Thank you Leah! I love that by simply putting codes in online, you can actually order brand new books to donate to your school’s library.
Love, love, love this! Last weekend I went through all of my boys’ books – we had a million – from when they were younger and I sold some at a garage sale, but I have several left over and this moves me to find somewhere to donate them other than a thrift store.
Definitely google “{name of hometown} adoption agency.” That is what I did. And foster kids are always needing new/gently loved books.
Great job collecting all those books. I agree that books are important for children. Reading is large part of the life of my family.
What a wonderful way to give back and make a difference in the life of someone else (particularly a child). Last year, I went through all the children’s books we had outgrown and donated them to a local charity. It always feels so good to pass along to others!
Love this! I’m a high school English teacher and am constantly pushing for literacy. I love that Kelloggs is helping more people have access to books. What a great post, thanks!
I love this, especially how perfectly it fit what you both are so passionate about. I should take a look through my boys’ books and put together a pile to donate in our area.
Helping kids = promoting reading? Love it! Thanks for telling us about this great campaign!
shae loves donating book. She gets so much joy from them that she know another kid will love them too
Owning your own book makes such a difference to a child. Even though there may be access to a library, there is something special about having a book that is yours to read and reread. This is a great drive. I hope there are many more like it!
such a wonderful charitable cause! I do believe every child should have the chance to read and have their own books!
I love their values statement. so simple, so needed and so true.
I can speak from experience- foster kids really appreciate new books. Thank you for doing this!
What an amazing campaign. I am all for children’s literacy. I love Champions for Kids!
Everyone should have access to great books, this sounds like such a fantastic program!
A book drive is such a great idea for sharing with foster kids. I had a friend in Foster care and she loved having things that helped her feel more comfortable.
This is such a great idea. It’s so important to get kids ready early.
I love this cause. Reading is one of the most important things for children. The boys and I donated over 300 books last year that we received as part of a campaign with Scholastic too, they are doing wonderful things.
Ack – my comments arent working so you may get three of these! LOL Sorry!
I love this. Such an awesome cause – and reading is one of those things that kids should fall in love with early – how wonderful to give these kids the gift of creativity.
What a great organization! We have read to our children since birth and now as adults they enjoying reading. Foster children already have so many issues to deal with. I believe reading may be helpful in relieving some of the stress experience.