Want to support kids and reading this holiday? Consider one of these wonderful children’s literature related charity organizations. Thanks to Sharon Levin for the round-up!
10 Books A Home
10BH is a home tutoring nonprofit that positions high poverty preschoolers and their families to enter kindergarten above grade level.
Pajama Program
Every child has the right to a good night. Yet, thousands of children across the United States will go to sleep tonight and their bedtime will be missing something. They may be feeling alone and afraid, in a bed that isn’t theirs, in a shelter that isn’t a home or with families who wish they could give them more.
At Pajama Program, we know that this doesn’t have to be their story. We know that we can do something that not only validates their worth and shows them love, but that also transforms their nights and their days. By offering the magical gifts of pajamas and books, we bring a caring bedtime ritual into their lives. Changing out of their clothes and into warm, cozy pajamas lets them shed the stresses of their day, trading them for feelings of warmth and hope. With enchanting stories, their imaginations are opened, helping them to dream again. These unconditional gifts fill them with love and a feeling of being cared for, transitioning them to bedtime and delivering a good night — preparing them for a good day that leads to a better life.
First Book
First Book is a nonprofit social enterprise that provides new books, learning materials, and other essentials to children in need. Since our founding in 1992, First Book has distributed more than 150 million books and educational resources to programs and schools serving children from low-income families. First Book transforms lives by improving access to equal, quality education for all kids.
Room to Read
Room to Read is a leading nonprofit for children’s literacy & girls’ education programs in Asia and Africa.
Libraries Without Borders
Libraries Without Borders launches its Board of Advisors program today, an initiative to engage librarians and incorporate best practices for libraries in LWB programs.
Bring Me A Book
We provide books to children, through partnerships, for home and preschool. Our partners make sure our books get into the hands of families and children who need them the most while supporting parents in using the books to help build their children’s literacy skills.
Lit World
LitWorld is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization creating permanent positive change in the world. We implement on-the-ground innovative solutions to the hard-to-tackle challenge of illiteracy worldwide. The combined power of children’s own stories + access to diverse reading/writing experiences + peer to peer and adult mentor relationships = productive and transformational literacy. We work in close and trusting partnerships with locally based, grassroots organizations to build sustainable outcomes for young people around the world.
Oakland Unified School District Libraries
There are 86 Oakland Unified School District Libraries – many of them closed and struggling. Your donations of specific titles and/or cash are greatly appreciated and directly support students. We love yearly donations to allow us to fund libraries. Please apply at the Juvenile Justice Fund through Philanthropic Ventures. Thank you for your support of our most vulnerable students!
West County READS, located in western Contra Costa County, collects new/gently used children’s books for local fairs and festivals in Richmond and San Pablo. These books are also used to restock ‘Take and Leave It’ bookshelves in local Laundromats, health centers, and churches.
The Reading Tree
The Reading Tree is devoted to early literacy (focusing on the often-neglected 0 to 3 demographic). We distribute thousands of books to low-income families each year and offer free parent-child reading classes for parents of babies and toddler.
The Children’s Book Project helps build literacy by providing new and gently used books for free to children who need them. You can also donate to them via the Community Thrift Store here in SF, by naming them as the charity to receive the profits from everything you donate (not just books).
Tandem, Partners in Early Learning
Many families throughout the Bay Area experience barriers to supporting their children’s love of learning, including access to resources and information, cost, transportation, time, and language barriers. Tandem® provides programs that help families overcome these common barriers to establish simple, effective book-sharing routines. Participate in their #EmptyShelf campaign this year.
The Beat Within
The Beat Within’s mission is to provide incarcerated youth with consistent opportunity to share their ideas and life experiences in a safe space that encourages reading, literacy, self-expression, critical thinking skills, and healthy, supportive relationships with adults and their community. Outside of the juvenile justice system, The Beat Within partners with community organizations and individuals to bring resources to youth both inside and outside of detention. We are committed to being an effective bridge between youth who are locked up and the community that aims to support their progress towards a healthy, non-violent, and productive life.
The Children’s Book Bank gathers thousands of new and gently-used books from the community.
Society of Young Inklings
At Society of Young Inklings, our mission is to inspire young authors to unleash the power of their unique stories. We match pro writers with youth writers in classes, mentorships and publishing programs. Our annual Inklings Book Contest offers a free mentorship and publication opportunity to youth writers across the country.
