Book Drive

BOOK DRIVE CANCELED

Because of COVID-19 our annual Book Drive was cancelled. 

But you can still help...

When you're low income, prioritizing spending is a must. And for many people living in Eastern Idaho, books don’t make the list of things families need to get by. Providing a wealth of books to children in low-income homes can help break the link between poverty and poor academic outcomes. Join us and make a difference today.

Because of COVID-19 our annual book drive was canceled. You can help us by holding your own family, neighborhood or workplace book drive. Donate gently used or new books. You get us the books and we'll make sure they get to those who want and need them. We accept all reading levels from infant to adult.

How can I help give books to low-income kids. There are numerous ways you can support our book drive, such as;

  • Host a book drive at your place of business – a great team building tool!
  • Clean out your own library and kid's book collection.
  • Run a Neighborhood Book Collection Drive – have group members distribute flyers and collect books from residents in your neighborhood. A terrific way for the community to see your group in action!
  • Become a United Way Children’s Book Drive Sponsor

If you have books to donate or collected books, contact Christine Leusch at cleusch@unitedwayif.org or call 208-522-2674 to make arrangements to drop them off at our offices.

NOW THE FACTS: SUMMER LEARNING LOSS
(AKA SUMMER SLIDE) STATISTICS

This year we are also dealing with the COVID Slide with students out of the classroom for up to 6 months.

  • In Idaho, low-income homes average only 1 book for every 300 children.  By comparison, in middle and high-income homes, each child has an average of 50 books. (Book It Forward, 2018)
  • 85% of children in the juvenile justice system are functionally illiterate.
  • Kids who only read in school will rarely be great readers. The availability of reading material in the home is directly associated with children’s achievement in reading. (Book It Forward, 2018)
  • Reading proficiently is the most significant indicator of academic success.
  • During summer, low-income students regress more than two months in reading achievement while their middle-class peers make slight gains (Cooper, 1996). 
  • Only 36% of Idaho fourth graders scored at or above proficient in reading on the National Assessment of Educational Progress test in 2018 (National KIDS COUNT Program)
  • 63% of low-income first graders were reading at grade level in the spring of 2018. When they returned as second graders in the fall, only 41% were reading at grade level. (Idaho State Depart. of Education)